Middlesbrough are believed to have made enquiries for
Alan Smith and James Beattie.
The Teesside club are looking for striking reinforcements with Mark
Viduka gone and Yakubu Aiyegbeni likely to depart.
Boro are ready to deal on Yakubu, with Portsmouth, Aston Villa and
West Ham all looking likely mount bids. Portsmouth are already
known to have tested Boro's resolve, but a swap deal involving Gary
O'Neil has not as yet been agreed - indeed Sean Davis could yet be
included instead of, or as well as, his midfield colleague.
With that the North East club are looking elsewhere and are
understood to have made a bid for an 'England international', and
that player is reported to be Smith.
It is not yet known whether Smith will be leaving Manchester
United, but the former Leeds man seems unlikely to be offered a new
deal and he has admitted that he will consider his options.
Middlesbrough are just one club thought to have shown an interest
with Sunderland, Everton, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Newcastle and
Rangers also linked.
Beattie is another said to be under consideration from Boro boss
Gareth Southgate and it is reported he has asked counterpart David
Moyes about his availability.
From this, it is claimed Everton have responded with an enquiry of
their own - asking about Boro's Stewart Downing.
Everton are keen to bolster their left-sided options and obviously
feel that the long-term Spurs target could be attracted to
Merseyside.
However, with Viduka gone and Yakubu likely to follow - it seems
unlikely at this stage that Boro would contemplate allowing Downing
to leave.
