Southgate set for switch to Middlesbrough

Gareth Southgate is on the verge of ending his year-long search for a new club by leaving Aston Villa for Middlesbrough. All that remains is for the 30-year-old England defender is to agree personal terms and pass a medical.

The former Crystal Palace defender first made a written transfer request to Villa's manager, John Gregory, before Euro 2000, but with no takers Southgate remained at Villa Park last season. Gregory was satisfied Southgate would still give his all for Villa but some supporters turned on the player, who has received hate mail and had his car vandalised.

Ian Walker, the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, has completed his move to Leicester City. The 29-year-old signed a four-year-deal at Filbert Street for a fee of £2.5m rising to £3m depending on appearances.

There was more good news for Leicester yesterday with Robbie Savage signing a new four-year £5m contract to stay at Leicester, a few months after agreeing to his last package.

Wes Brown has agreed a new four-year contract with Manchester United that will keep him at Old Trafford until the end of June 2005.

The Manchester City and Costa Rica striker Paulo Wanchope is a £3m target for the Spanish side Malaga.

Wigan will sign Watford's Northern Ireland winger, Peter Kennedy, today for £300,000.

Hibernian have completed the transfer of the midfielder Derek Townsley from Motherwell in a two-year deal.

Derby's signing of Fabrizio Ravanelli is in danger of collapse after it emerged that the club's board were only prepared to offer the Lazio striker a one-year deal.The Lithuania striker Robertas Poskus is set to have a trial with the Rams this week while the defender Gilberto Martinez is also expected to arrive this month from Costa Rica.

Hearts have completed a £350,000 deal for the Canadian defender Kevin McKenna from the German club Energie Cottbus. Wolves hope to complete the signing of the goalkeeper Maikel Aerts from the Dutch club Den Bosch.

Liverpool have been shocked by the death of a third club stalwart, following the passing of the former club scout and youth development officer and then vice-president Tom Saunders, aged 80. For the third time in a week the flags at Anfield have been at half mast, following the earlier deaths of their former manager Joe Fagan and the 79-year-old Billy Liddell, a star of the 40s and 50s.