Thomas Sorensen

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is reportedly planning a January transfer raid for out-of-favour Aston Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

The long-term future of Australian stopper Mark Schwarzer is in doubt at Boro as he ponders whether to sign a new contract. The former Bradford 'keeper is out of contract in the summer and looks likely to leave the Riverside after over 10 years on Teesside.

Southgate knows from the painful experience of Mark Viduka's free-transfer switch to Newcastle last summer that he needs to bring in reinforcements before Schwarzer's inevitable departure - and, according to the Daily Mirror, Sorensen is top of his wanted list.

The Denmark international, 31, enjoyed a successful spell with Boro's rivals Sunderland before joining Villa three years ago.

But he is now out of favour in Martin O'Neill's squad, where he finds himself third choice behind new England 'keeper Scott Carson and Stuart Taylor and has hinted that he may need to move on in order to play regularly.