MIDDLESBROUGH are ready to raise the stakes in the race to land Gareth Southgate by offering £7m for the Aston Villa defender.

Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle, who had Southgate in his charge with England, is also chasing the 30-year-old centre-back.

Watford-born Southgate is understood to be leaning towards a return to London, where his career was launched with Crystal Palace.

But new Boro boss Steve McClaren is determined to make his first breakthrough in the transfer market and hopes the presence of former Villa No 2 Steve Harrison at the Riverside will help sway Southgate if the choice comes down to the player.

McClaren's opening bid was £6m and he knows he may yet have to match the club record £8m predecessor Bryan Robson paid to bring Southgate's former defensive partner Ugo Ehiogu to Boro last season.

McClaren is also reported to be trailing unhappy Coventry striker John Hartson, who has been linked with Sunderland.

Meanwhile, two of Boro's early-season matches have been re-scheduled for live coverage on Sky.

The trip to Leicester has been brought forward 48 hours to Monday, September 17, while the home game against Sunderland is switched from Saturday, October 20, to Monday, 22. Both matches kick off at 8pm.

* Newcastle United boss Bobby Robson has ordered his players back to training next Tuesday - three days ahead of schedule - to prepare for the Intertoto Cup campaign which starts a fortnight on Sunday.

New signing Craig Bellamy, who has completed his £6m move from Coventry, is on holiday in Majorca but will report with the rest of his teammates.

Robson has all but abandoned hope of luring Barcelona winger Boudewijn Zenden, with Roma having joined Parma and Deportivo La Coruna in the hunt for the £7m-rated Dutch international.

Newcastle's game at West Ham, now managed by former Magpies' skipper Glenn Roeder, has been moved from Saturday, September 22, to the following day (4pm) for live coverage on Sky.

Read more about the Boro here.