Third club in running to sign Woodgate

A third club is in the running to sign Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate after agreeing a fee for the England international.

Tottenham were thought to be favourites ahead of Newcastle to sign the 28-year-old but Boro chief executive Keith Lamb has revealed they have also accepted an offer from another, as yet unnamed side.

“We’ve agreed a fee with Tottenham and as far as I’m aware he went down at the weekend to have a medical and we’re just waiting to see,” Lamb said.

“We agreed a fee with Tottenham, Newcastle and another club but we left it up to Jonathan, he could stay or go.”

Woodgate is one of Middlesbrough’s prize assets but the player has been troubled by injuries in the last few years and Lamb said manager Gareth Southgate was happy to let the player go providing his valuation – believed to be around £8m – was met.

“We’ve got an abundance of centre-backs and with the emergence of David Wheater and with Robert Huth back and Emanuel Pogatetz, Gareth felt he could let one of them go,” Lamb said.