Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate will speak to Gary O'Neil amidst reports that the midfielder has failed to settle in the North East; and West Ham and Reading said to be interested.

The 24-year-old, who is likely to be sidelined until pre-season after a knee surgery last month, had joined Boro from Portsmouth last summer in a £5million deal.

"Until I've spoken to Gary about it I don't know how much is based on fact," Southgate is quoted as saying on skysports.com.

"I think certainly there has been a little problem with him settling off the field but whether that problem is still there or it's something that we can deal with we'll have to see over the next couple of months.

"He certainly won't walk out the door without a fight from our end.

"I think he's done a fantastic job on the right hand side this year, I think there's more to come from him and obviously the first thing he's got to do is get over the injury."