Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan is closing in on Middlesbrough centre-half Jonathan Woodgate.
Woodgate, who is keen on the idea of playing for Keegan, would be a popular signing at Newcastle.
Keegan will almost certainly offer the former England Under-21 international Shola Ameobi as a potential sweetener to try and facilitate a deal since Boro manager Gareth Southgate has previously expressed an interest in the Newcastle striker.