Middlesbrough boss Southgate closes in on top target Digard

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The France under-21 international would cost Boro around £5million and Southgate is hoping to beat off interest from Newcastle United and Aston Villa to land him.

Southgate said: "Didier is somebody we’ve been watching and he’s somebody we've made an enquiry about. He’s a player we’re interested in but at this stage of the summer it’s difficult to go any further.

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In the market: Southgate is keen to add to his squad

"The one major difference between Didier and a lot of other players is that it looks as if his club are willing to sell him. That puts him in a slightly different position to some of the other players we might have been looking at."

Southgate has been linked with Reading's James Harper, Chelsea squad man Steve Sidwell, Wolves youngster Michael Kightly and Portsmouth's want-away star Sean Davis, all of whom can play in the central midfield position vacated by Fabio Rochemback.

Meanwhile Middlesbrough-born attacking midfielder Nathan Porritt, 18, has signed a two-year professional contract with the club but Tony McMahon has yet to sign his new deal.