NEIL WARNOCK wants to make Chris Gunter his first signing at Middlesbrough.
The 71-year-old replaced Jonathan Woodgate at the Riverside on Tuesday and is desperate to keep Boro in the Championship.
Warnock believes Boro lack experience and leadership and has identified Reading’s Gunter, who is available on a free transfer, as a top priority when the window reopens this summer.
Championship rivals Birmingham also want full-back Gunter, who is Wales’ record all-time appearance holder with 96 caps.
Ex-Tottenham and Nottingham Forest defender Gunter, 30, was close to signing for Warnock at hometown club Cardiff in January.
But Warnock got the sack by the Bluebirds in November and that scuppered a return to Wales for the right-back.
Gunter has signed a contract extension to play the remaining eight games of the 2019-20 season at Reading.
The Welshman has been at the Royals since 2012, making more than 300 appearances for the club.
Warnock is now taking charge of his 17th club following Boro’s dismal 3-0 home defeat to Swansea last weekend.
The shocking defeat left them outside of the bottom three only on goal difference.
And the veteransaid it was a “no-brainer” and he was delighted to be back in the dug-out – almost as much as his wife!
He said: “It came a little bit out of the blue last night, getting a phone call asking would I help, and that’s why I’m coming up.
“I’ve always had a lot of respect for Steve [Gibson] so it was a no-brainer really when he asked if I could come up and help out for the rest of the season.”
