NEWCASTLE UNITED are planning a bid to keep David Wheater in the North-East after it emerged he is in no rush to sign a new contract at Middlesbrough.

Chris Hughton, the Magpies manager, has already been to run the rule over the Redcar-born centre-back this season and knows he is available for free next summer.

Hughton faces stiff competition for Wheater’s signature, with Stoke City, Everton, Liverpool and Aston Villa all known to be considering making a cut-price January swoop. Sunderland, meanwhile, are also keeping an eye on his form.

Newcastle are already well stocked with centre-backs, but with Steven Taylor still to sign a new contract and Sol Campbell due to turn 37 next September, Hughton knows he has to look at his options to compete with Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini.

Wheater, a former England Under-21 international, represents a bargain to Premier League clubs, given that he will become a free agent at the end of the season when his contract expires.

It is only 18 months since the 23-year-old was regarded in the £9m bracket by his club when Villa looked at the possibility of taking him to Villa Park along with Stewart Downing.

While his valuation has dropped after a disappointing first season in the Championship, he has returned to somewhere near his best this season and that has increased the attention on him.

Tony Mowbray is keen to keep Wheater long-term however, given that he was awarded his last contract when they were in the Premier League, Middlesbrough accept they will have to listen to offers for him when the transfer window opens in January.

If there is substantial interest at the turn of the year, then Newcastle will be forced to seriously consider making a firm offer for the player.

Middlesbrough would hope to land around £2m for Wheater during the transfer window, although it is understood the likes of Stoke are hoping to pay considerably less for a player out of contract six months later.

Wheater harbours hopes of playing in the Premier League after seeing his profile drop since being invited to join the England squad two-and-a-half years ago.

The product of Middlesbrough’s reputable Academy would have preferred to lead the drive back to the topflight, but fears his chance is slipping away after another year of disappointment.

Mowbray hopes to persuade Wheater to commit for another year or two on Teesside.

But with interest growing, Wheater seems to be in no rush to sign new terms and that has alerted Hughton – who watched him in the defeat to Bristol City last month – and many others in the Premier League.

Wheater would appear to be a perfect candidate to replace Taylor at Newcastle if there is no progress made on his own contract situation.

It has been claimed that Newcastle have offered Taylor improved terms after months of stand-off between the two parties.

Tottenham and West Ham have been credited with an interest in Taylor, although there have been no firm offers from either for the 24-year-old.