Boro have also gone cool on Standard Liege's Oguchi Onyewu who had a poor World Cup with USA. They have now turned their attentions to Sochaux's Souleymane Diawara who comes from Senegal. Bolton have also been tracking the centre half.
Meanwhile Newcastle are closing in on Jimmy Floydd Hasselbaink who is out of contract at the end of this week. Southgate will need to act swiftly if he wants to keep the hitman at the Riverside. Celtic have also shown an interest in him.