Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate is believed to be close to rejoining Newcastle.

The 28-year-old held talks with Tottenham earlier this week but discussions are thought to have stalled, allowing United manager Kevin Keegan to step in with a £7million bid which has been accepted.

It was Keegan who handed Woodgate his England debut in 1999 while he was still at Leeds. Woodgate joined Newcastle for the first time in January 2003 but left just 18 months later for Real Madrid in a £13.4million deal.

A series of injuries wrecked the centre-half's time in the Spanish capital and he moved back to the Premier League with Boro in August 2006 — initially on loan before a £7million permanent switch was agreed last April.

If the deal is completed it will make Woodgate the first new arrival since Keegan also returned to St James' Park earlier this month.

Woodgate was not included in Middlesbrough's squad today as they beat Mansfield 2-0 in the FA Cup fourth round.