GARETH Southgate's midfield dilemma could get even more complicated later this month as Wigan Athletic prepare to make a formal approach for Lee Cattermole.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce has been promised a significant transfer kitty after keeping the Latics in the Premier League, and sources in Lancashire claim Cattermole is one of the players on his wanted list.

The Stockton-born midfielder has struggled to hold down a starting spot with Middlesbrough this season, starting just ten Premier League matches despite the club's struggles in the bottom half of the table.

He will have expected a much greater level of involvement after breaking into the first team last season, and Wigan are ready to test Boro's resolve to hold on to him with a seven-figure bid once the transfer window reopens next month.

Given his reluctance to name Cattermole in his starting line-up, it had been expected that Southgate would dispense with the 20-year-old's services this summer, but his options have been limited by the uncertainty surrounding four of his other midfielders.

Gaizka Mendieta, Fabio Rochemback, George Boateng and Gary O'Neil have all being linked with a move away from the Riverside, and the departure of three or more of the quartet would force a major re-think over Cattermole's future.

2:03am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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