Gareth Southgate has confirmed that both Newcastle and Tottenham have spoken to Jonathan Woodgate.
Defender has choice to make
Gareth Southgate has confirmed that both Newcastle and Tottenham have spoken to Jonathan Woodgate.
Skysports.com revealed
earlier this week that Newcastle had talked with Woodgate, after which point Spurs also met with the player's representatives.
Southgate has confirmed that Woodgate is thinking over his future, which could yet see him remain at Boro.
"The latest is that we have given him permission to speak to Newcastle and to Tottenham," said Southgate, talking after Boro's 2-0 FA Cup win over Mansfield.
"I think a fee is agreed with Newcastle, but I don't know if a fee is agreed with Tottenham.
Decision
"He has got a decision to make, whether he wants to be part of what we are doing or whether he wants to move on somewhere else.
"We have got strength in the centre-half areas that's for sure, but it's most importantly about what Jonathan's feelings are.
"If he wants to be part of what we are doing, then fantastic, and we are delighted to have him with us.
"If he feels it's the right thing to move on, then he goes with our best wishes.
"He has got the opportunity now to make the decision he wants to make."
Hutchinson deal
Meanwhile, Southgate admits he knows little about Ben Hutchinson's decision to sign a pre-contract with Scottish champions Celtic - a story revealed exclusively by
skysports.com.
"That's something that has emerged over the last couple of days, and I haven't even had a chance to sit and speak to Ben about it," he said.
"I don't want to say too much about that at this moment in time because there
is a bit of investigating to be done into it."
