Middlesbrough are preparing a £6 million bid for Manchester United striker Alan Smith.

Southgate is hoping to persuade Smith to the north east after losing fellow striker Mark Viduka to Newcastle and Yakubu Aiyegbeni set to join Portsmouth for £12m.

Smith has been told he will not be offered a new deal at Old Trafford but Boro face a fight to land the former Leeds striker.

But Southgate is confident of a deal as Smith's good friend Jonathan Woodgate - another ex-Elland Road employee - joined Boro last season from Real Madrid.