Third team in for Woodgate

Gunners join hunt for centre-half

By Graeme Bailey   Last updated: 28th January 2008

Gareth Southgate Jonathan Woodgate Middlesbrough

Woodgate: Talks continuing

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Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb claims a third team has agreed a fee for Jonathan Woodgate with reports suggesting it is Arsenal.

Tottenham and Newcastle both made moves for the England defender - who looked to have agreed to join Spurs.

But Lamb confirmed that another, as yet unnamed club, also made a bid for Woodgate.

"We've agreed a fee with Tottenham and as far as I'm aware he went down at the weekend to have a medical and we're just waiting to see," Lamb told Talksport.

"We agreed a fee with Tottenham, Newcastle and another club but we left it up to Jonathan, he could stay or go."

Lamb admitted Boro were willing to let Woodgate leave as they were well in stocked in central defence.

"We've got an abundance of centre-backs and with the emergence of David Wheater and with Robert Huth back and [Emanuel] Pogatetz, Gareth felt he could let one of them go."

Sky Sports sources now claim that Arsenal are the rival bidders, and it remains to be seen whether Woodgate is still heading for White Hart Lane.