It looks like a former Middlesbrough graduate could be on his way for big money.
News has emerged via The Sky Sports Transfer Centre that Championship side Southampton have made a £10m bid for Swansea centre-back Nathan Wood.
The 21-year-old defender was sold by Middlesbrough last summer for an undisclosed fee, after coming through the famous Middlesbrough academy ranks and following in the footsteps of his father Dean Gordon, who also played for the Teesside club.
Dean Gordon – a marauding left-back – played in the Premier League for Middlesbrough, making 63 appearances and scoring five goals (who could forget that spectacular volley against Manchester United).
Wood played 14 times at senior level and looked the part as a cultured centre-back who could dominate in the air but also play out well. Boro decided that he was not needed and sanctioned a deal for him to join Swansea City, where he has already made 47 appearances.
There have been regular reports linking Wood to the south coast club and Southampton, relegated from the Premier League last season, have kept a close eye on the England U-21 defender. They appear to be determined to secure the services of the former Boro youngster.
It comes at a time when Middlesbrough, ironically, are struggling for clean sheets and could do with someone of his stature. Although, in truth, the lack of a clean sheet is more as a consequence of the style of play than the individual performances as a centre-back.
What Boro fans will be keen to know, is whether there was a sell-on clause for the 21-year-old. There was no mention of it when the initial deal to Swansea took place, but you would like to think the club were shrewd enough to acknowledge that there was potential for him to improve significantly.
If the mooted fee is anything to go by, a sell-on clause of even 10% would be a very welcome boost to the club. The new recruitment model is designed for exactly this scenario. Ensuring that valuable players – even if they are moved on – continue to keep the club afloat with transfer fees or sell-on clauses.