Premier League side Middlesbrough are understood to have made a formal enquiry for Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson.

Reports in the North East suggest ‘Boro manager Gareth Southgate has earmarked the 23-year-old as the man to turn around the club’s flagging fortunes after they dropped into the relegation zone at the weekend following a run of ten league games without a win.

The former England international is also believed to have made an offer for Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood but he needs to raise cash for both signings before they can go through, most likely with the sale of striker Mido.

Speaking yesterday however, Palace manager Neil Warnock suggested he had received nothing but loan offers for some of his youngsters.

Asked if there were likely to be any comings-or-goings in the next few days, he said: “It’s all dead.

“We have had a couple of enquires for loan players but we won’t be doing anything until the end of the month.”

Watson, who is out of contract in December, was offered a new deal at Selhurst Park in the summer that would have reportedly made him the best paid player at the club.

However he has so far refused to put to paper and looks increasingly likely to leave SE25 before the transfer window closes on February 2 with the Eagles also desperate to raise money and reduce their wage bill.