Leeds look at Southgate

After selling Ferdinand to arch-rivals Manchester United for a British record £30 million, Leeds are in the market for a new centre half.

Leeds boss Terry Venables has drawn up a shopping list and with his spending power increased by the Ferdinand sale, he is preparing to splash out.

Venables is well aware of Southgate's ability having coached him when he was England manager and he is a similar type of player to Ferdinand.

Southgate has recently been made Middlesbrough captain and would not be allowed to leave The Riverside without a fight.

But Leeds may be ready to test Boro's resolve with a £5 million bid for the 31-year-old who cost the Teesside club £6.5 million last summer.

Whites chief Venables is also scouring for a left back with Sunderland's Michael Gray mooted as a possible target.

Gray has spent his entire career with The Black Cats, and similar to the Southgate scenario, would be difficult to prise away.

Venables could dangle Republic of Ireland full back Gary Kelly as bait to entice Gray to Elland Road, and he is certain to step up his efforts to acquire fresh faces in the coming weeks.