BRAZIL and Argentina's rivalry is one of the most marked in world football, yet Gareth Southgate last night revealed how a strong friendship between Middlesbrough's South Americans has left him in no rush to split the pair up.

In the last couple of weeks Fabio Rochemback and Julio Arca have been the subject of speculation about their futures on Teesside, with Benfica and Sunderland understood to be monitoring their respective situations.

However, Southgate is in no mood to sell either of his midfield talents and he points to Sunday's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United as the latest piece of evidence which illustrates why.

Rochemback, the Brazilian, and Argentinian Arca share a room together on away days and a growing understanding between the two was reflected at the heart of the Middlesbrough midfield against the Magpies.

For Rochemback, whose delightful chip over the Newcastle defence allowed Mido to score his second goal for the club, it was a further indication that he is more settled on Teesside than ever before.

While in Arca's case, despite an apparent £2m bid from Sunderland for his services recently, his stunning equaliser was more encouragement for Southgate that he no longer has to rush to find a new creative midfielder.

And the Middlesbrough manager, who expects the £11.25m sale of Ayegbeni Yakubu to go through today after an appeal over his application for a work permit, is in no mood to lose any more of his top talents.

"Julio is a class act and always has been," said Southgate, ahead of tonight's Carling Cup second round date with League One side Northampton Town at the Riverside Stadium.

"It's not strange Sunderland are trying to show an interest in him but Julio is one of our most important players, there's no way I'd let him leave this football club.

"He's a smashing character as well as being a talented player. You'd need about five times £2m to try to get him now. Julio's aware there's some interest, there's no smoke without fire."

Rochemback's father Juarez, meanwhile, was quoted just last week suggesting that his son would be interested in making a return to Portugal, where he made a name for himself for Sporting Lisbon.

City rivals Benfica, armed with around £12m following Manuel Fernandes' decision to join Valencia instead of Everton, are a club thought to have made tentative enquiries.

But after building up a rapport with Arca, Southgate wants to retain his services and he also feels Rochemback is happy to stay in the Premier League.

It may be too early to talk about exercising the option of a contract extension when his existing terms expire next summer, but Southgate said: "There was a bit of ribbing between Julio and Fabio when we were in Austria in the summer and Brazil and Argentina played each other in the Copa America.

"But they're very close and room together and Fabio's very happy. His girlfriend's come over from Brazil to live with him in the past couple of weeks as well. In my opinion I didn't get the best out of him in the early stages of my time as manager. That's down to me."

Joining Rochemback and Arca in the squad this week could be Mido's international team-mate Mohammed Shawky.

The 25-year-old, a defensive midfielder, has already had a medical and held contract talks. Now Middlesbrough are trying to agree a fee of around £250,000 with his club Al-Ahly, the former African Champions League winners.

The fall-out from the unsavoury chanting aimed towards Mido continued yesterday, with the Football Association confirming they will contact both Middlesbrough and Newcastle for their version of events. Southgate, though, is keen to draw a line under the whole unsavoury incident.

The Teessiders are likely to rest Jonathan Woodgate and Luke Young for the visit of Northampton tonight.

And Southgate, who could recall Andrew Davies after hamstring trouble, has included Darlington-born striker Tom Craddock in his squad. The teenager is unlikely to start despite the fact Jeremie Aliadiere has not fully recovered from an aerial clash with Newcastle's Steven Taylor.

Arca, for one, feels Boro can win the competiton. He said: "The Carling Cup is a great chance for us to win something this season. this club won it three years ago and that shows we know how to do it. We have to believe we can go and win it."

Jiri Jarosik is hoping to seal a move to England or Russia before the transfer window closes on Friday.

The Celtic midfielder, 29, is keen to quit the Scottish champions after struggling to hold down a first team place following his £2m move from Chelsea a year ago.

He said: ''There are still four days to go in the transfer window and I am just waiting for the call from my agent."