Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is eyeing Aston Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

The Evening Gazette says the fact that Mark Schwarzer has not yet put pen to paper on a contract extension has forced Southgate to start looking at potential goalkeeper signings.

He has been strongly linked with a move to bring Villa's Sorensen back to the North-east.

The Dane has lost his Premiership place at Villa Park to England's new goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Sorensen is quoted as saying: "I am a footballer and of course I want to play regularly soon.

"It's a bit depressing with just training and the reserves."