Southgate keen on keeping Schwarzer

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has launched a late bid to hang onto Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

The Socceroos' No.1 custodian has been a loyal servant of the English Premier League club for 11 years but is out of contract next month.

Southgate confirmed the club had opened talks with the 35-year-old, who has reportedly attracted interest from Juventus, Fiorentina, Celtic and Bayern Munich.

"I'd like him to stay," Southgate said.

"His experience is important but he has real drive and determination that is still increasing.

"We have to negotiate and see where we go, but players have to want to stay here and we have to want to keep them.

"Mark has been here a long time so he has to decide if he needs a fresh challenge, whether what we are trying to do is going to excite him, whether he feels he is going to be appreciated here."

Schwarzer turned down a one-year contract extension with Boro at the start of the 2007-08 season, which finished last weekend, and is believed to be seeking at least a two-year deal to take him through to the 2010 World Cup.