Smith?

Sky sports have reported that Boro are set to make inquiries about Manchester United striker, Alan Smith. It has been made clear that United are not going to offer Smith a new contract after a poor run following a series of frustrating injuries and rumour has it that Boro boss Gareth Southgate is making inquiries about the player's availability.
Unwanted as it may be for many of the Boro faithful, it appears set that Yakubu will be leaving the riverside after just 2 seasons, with his former club Portsmouth, seemingly leading the chase to bring him in. Yakubu's departure would leave Southgate on the back foot despite having agreed deals for Jeremie Aliadiere and Tuncay Sanli, as there would only be 3 strikers left at the club. But if Boro could seal a move for Smith then they would be back up to 4 and with a massive overhaul of Boro's striking force. Each of the strikers will have been a Southgate acquisition, with Dong Gook Lee arriving last January.
Meanwhile, Everton are attempting a bid for Boro and England Winger Stewart Downing. It has been known for a long time that Tottenham have been highly interested in local Boro lad, Downing, but it has appeared that Everton are mounting an interest after inquiries, from Boro, about Everton striker James Beattie. But all Boro fans will not hesitate to make next season a tough one for Southgate, if he was foolish enough to let one of, if not the, most important Boro player leave in pursuit of, in my opinion, a hardly prolific goal scorer. I know Southgate wants to make this team his own and to revitalise the squad, but he would be taking it way too far, if not a massive leap in the wrong direction, by selling Downing who, as far as I am aware, is happy to be playing for his home town club and has stressed in the past that he has no desire of leaving the club despite interest from arguably 'bigger' clubs.