Middlesbrough are capable of being a top four club, insists manager Gareth Southgate.

"I think what we have to say at this point in time is that we know we cannot compete with Manchester United," Southgate admitted.

"But what we might say is 'can we breach that gap?' And I refuse to accept that we can't.

"It's not necessarily a case of spending a lot of money, it's about getting the right people in and having the right mentality.

"That has to be our aim as a club and I refuse to write off the possibility."