The 35-year-old Australian has been at Boro for more than a decade and notched up over 400 games for the club.

His current contract is about to expire though with Juventus and Bayern Munich both reportedly interested in signing the experienced custodian.

Southgate told Middlesbrough's official website: "We are talking to Mark. I'd like him to stay. His experience is important but he has real drive and determination that is still increasing.

"He is the one in our dressing room that can truly say he has played at the highest level - in World Cups, in Europe, in cup finals and so on.

"We have to negotiate and see where we go, but players have to want to stay here and we have to want to keep them.

"Mark has been here a long time so he has to decide if he needs a fresh challenge, whether what we are trying to do is going to excite him, whether he feels he is going to be appreciated here."