MIDDLESBROUGH have entered the race to sign Wigan's unsettled defender Pascal Chimbonda.

Tottenham have been chasing the Frenchman all summer but have been unwilling to meet the Latics' £6.5m asking price.

Their failure to do so has infuriated Wigan manager Paul Jewell, who has seen his player become frustrated at what he sees as Wigan's unwillingness to sell.

It is for that reason the Lancashire club would prefer to sell Chimbonda to another interested party rather than offload him to Spurs, and Boro have moved in.

The Teessiders, who were hammered 4-0 in Heereveen last night in the last final game of their tour of Holland and Germany, have made a late move and have officially lodged their interest.

Chimbonda, previously largely unknown apart from in his homeland where he was with Bastia and Le Havre, made a name for himself in his first year in the Premiership as one of Wigan's star performers.

His form led to a late inclusion in the France World Cup squad and Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is keen to bolster his defence with his acquisition.

Middlesbrough have never replaced Abel Xavier after the Portuguese defender tested positive for using a performance enhancing drug towards the back end of last year.

Both Stuart Parnaby and Tony McMahon will be competing for that role this season but Southgate is hoping to add a more experienced player.

And 27-year-old Chimbonda is the man they want, although it is unclear whether Middlesbrough will be willing to match Wigan's £6.5m valuation.

Meanwhile, Stewart Downing, has moved to reassure the Teesside faithful that he is happy to stay in his hometown.

Tottenham have made Downing their top target for the left-wing slot this summer and Martin Jol is determined to land his man.

Jol's transfer fund is already well stocked but it could be boosted further should they accept an improved bid from Sunderland for Andy Reid.

It is just a matter of when Tottenham launch their next bid for Downing, with £12m thought to be their final offer.

But the 22-year-old is only focused on playing well for his existing employers.

Downing said: "It's flattering to be linked with clubs, but I'm contracted to Boro for four more years, I'm happy to stay, I want to stay and there's no reason for me to leave.

"I said at the start of last season that I could achieve European football and fulfil my international ambitions at Boro and a lot of people laughed.

"But we ended up in the final of the UEFA Cup, the semi-finals of the FA Cup and should have won that game, and I played in the World Cup."

Boro's final pre-season fixture ahead of the new Premiership will be on Saturday when they face Italian side Chievo at the Riverside Stadium.

And Downing feels the preparations this summer have been beneficial and the squad is ready for the opening day trip to Reading on August 19.

"Hopefully we can get off to a good start this season. We were disappointed with our performance in the league last season and we ended up concentrating on the cups," said the 22-year-old.

Veteran defender Colin Cooper has revealed that all proceeds from Saturday's match will be donated to charities and good causes.

l David Wheater was red-carded for a foul in only the ninth minute of the 4-0 defeat at Heerenveen last night.