Southgate ready to raid Gunners

Gareth Southgate reportedly wants to snatch Arsenal's left-sided starlet Armand Traore from under the noses of loan club Portsmouth.

The Middlesbrough boss has been impressed by the form of the 19-year-old during his temporary spell at Fratton Park which is scheduled to carry on for the rest of the current Premier League season. And, as he bids to bolster the left side of his defence at the Riverside, Southgate is thought to be pondering a cash offer to take Traore from the Emirates on a permanent basis.

Traore, who is a natural left-back, cannot get into Arsene Wenger's Gunners side due to Gael Clichy's presence, while he has been playing on the left side of midfield at Pompey.

Therefore a chance to play in his favoured role could entice him to the North-East, while he would link up with former Arsenal team-mates Justin Hoyte and Jeremie Aliadiere at the Riverside.

It is not known if Pompey boss Tony Adams could be able to challenge Boro for Traore's permanent signature if they firm up their reported interest in the January transfer window.

Meanwhile Boro are amongst a number of clubs who have been told to forget about signing Standard Liege's highly-rated 19-year-old Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel.

Standard's vice-president Luciano D'Onofrio says the club has no plans to sell Witsel and they have already turned down a huge offer for him.

"I had a bid of €20million for Witsel and it was refused," he said.

"It is not even a question."