Middlesbrough are believed to have made an enquiry about signing Matthew Taylor from Portsmouth for a reported fee of £4.5million.

Boro are unlikely to match Portsmouth's valuation at this stage, although they may be forced to if Stewart Downing moves to Tottenham.

Taylor has attracted a lot of attention from Premier League clubs and last week reportedly had a medical at Reading.

But the move was put on hold while Harry Redknapp searches for a replacement.

The Pompey boss said: "Matty wants to leave. He wants to move and we have had a couple of clubs in for him.

"But I can't sell anyone until we get some people in."

Middlesbrough may have a fight on their hands to persuade Taylor to move north as he is believed to be reluctant to move his family from their Oxfordshire home.