Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has confirmed that defender David Wheater's new contract is close to being signed.

A deal is understood to have been agreed in theory with only minor details needing to be finalised.

Wheater is out of contract at the end of the season and this has prompted speculation that Boro could lose the 20-year-old.

But the Teesside-born stopper has always looked likely to stay and he will put pen-to-paper in the coming weeks.

"We're a long way down the line with that," said Southgate.

"We've actually got a couple of meetings with David and his Dad lined up in the next few weeks.

"David wants to be here, he's made that clear, and it's just a case of finalising things. We're obviously very, very happy with what he's doing."