Tottenham are understood to be close to completing a deal for in-demand Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate.

The 28-year-old is now certain to leave the Riverside after a fee of around £8million was agreed with both Spurs and Newcastle, as well as a third unnamed Barclays Premier League club.

However, Woodgate - who quit the Magpies to join Real Madrid in 2004 - appears to have rejected the chance to return to St James' Park, with manager Kevin Keegan as much as admitting defeat at the weekend.

Spurs head coach Juande Ramos is all too aware of Woodgate from La Liga after the defender's spell in Spain, one which was, however, not without injury problems.

The White Hart Lane club are also looking for cover for Ledley King, who is being brought back gradually from knee surgery.

Although there has been no official comment from Spurs on either Woodgate's expected arrival, or that of Rangers full-back Alan Hutton, said to have been in London for talks, it is believed a deal could be pushed through in time for the Barclays Premier League trip to Everton on Wednesday night.

The protracted saga, however, took another turn earlier today when Boro chief executive Keith Lamb has revealed they have also accepted an offer from another, as yet unnamed side.

"We've agreed a fee with Tottenham and as far as I'm aware he went down at the weekend to have a medical and we're just waiting to see," Lamb said.

"We agreed a fee with Tottenham, Newcastle and another club but we left it up to Jonathan, he could stay or go."

Woodgate is one of Middlesbrough's prize assets but the player has been troubled by injuries in the last few years and Lamb said manager Gareth Southgate was happy to let the player go providing his valuation was met.

"We've got an abundance of centre-backs and with the emergence of David Wheater and with Robert Huth back and Emanuel Pogatetz, Gareth felt he could let one of them go," Lamb told talkSPORT.

Arsenal were reported to be in the running for the England international.

However, manager Arsene Wenger ruled out any such move.

"I do not know where that story came from. There is no truth in it at all," said Wenger, speaking in his programme notes ahead of tomorrow's game with Newcastle.

"We have never been in touch with Middlesbrough about Jonathan Woodgate."

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