MIDDLESBROUGH hope to push through the signing of Seth Johnson after agreeing a £4m fee with cash-strapped Leeds.

Left-sided midfielder Johnson would be the fifth international to head out of Elland Road this season following Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, Lee Bowyer and Olivier Dacourt.

And that total could rise to six if Newcastle are successful in their attempt to land Teessider Jonathan Woodgate.

Johnson, who joined Leeds from Derby County for £7m in October 2001, has failed to justify his price tag but been dogged by injuries.

The one-cap England international has made only 20 appearances for Leeds - just four as a substitute this season - and hasn't started a game since their final match last term.

But Boro manager Steve McClaren, anxious to strengthen his squad, is confident the 23-year-old wideman can prove his worth at the Riverside.

McClaren has pleaded poverty in recent weeks, but chairman Steve Gibson has finally agreed to relax the purse strings with the transfer window closing in only nine days.

Johnson, accompanied by agent Leon Angel, was at Boro's Rockliffe Park training headquarters yesterday to discuss personal terms over a four-and-a-half-year deal.

A Boro spokesman last night confirmed: "Seth Johnson has been to Rockliffe today for talks.''

Leeds, £77m in debt, are desperate to sell after the breakdown last week of Robbie Fowler's £7m move to Manchester City.

But the Leeds board have been warned they risk the wrath of fans who are becoming increasingly angry with what they see as ''asset stripping.''

Simon Jose, co-founder of the Leeds Supporters' Forum, said: ''If Woodgate was sold there would be uproar, it would be bordering on insanity.'' McClaren, meanwhile, has also enquired about Bolton striker Michael Ricketts.

But at £6m, he is almost certainly beyond Boro's means, and Tottenham are leading the chase.

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