West Ham United have stepped up their interest in signing 22-year-old defender Matthew Bates, whose Middlesbrough contract expires this summer.

Relegation to the Championship has sparked a scramble for the player's services and Steve Bruce's decision to leave Wigan for Sunderland has put West Ham in the driving seat to secure a deal.

Bruce had been keen to sign Bates for Wigan but will now need time to take stock of his new squad.

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Academy product Bates has made 52 senior appearances for Middlesbrough to date.