Middlesbrough are hoping to confirm 21-year-old defender David Wheater on a long-term contract after his emergence as a genuine first-team player this season.

Talks are progressing well, and manager Gareth Southgate hopes that agreement will be reached soon.

He said: "We are very close. I wouldn't want to put a timescale on it, but certainly all the talks have been very positive.

"David has said both privately and publicly that he wants to be here - and we are hoping to progress that very soon."