Middlesbrough and Tottenham are chasing Atletico Madrid midfielder Maniche.
The News of the World says Riverside boss Gareth Southgate knows he needs to sign quality players in the transfer window and he has enquired about the Atletico Madrid midfielder.
Tottenham have also been monitoring his situation for the last couple of months.
But Southgate has now joined the race to sign him in a bid to bring in one of the top operators he requires to lift Boro out of the relegation zone.