By Andrew McKenzie

Woodgate (right) could be in demand this summer

Middlesbrough skipper George Boateng has urged defender Jonathan Woodgate to commit his future to the club.

Woodgate, 27, is on loan from Real Madrid until the summer but has yet to decide where his future lies at the end of this season.

"Outside of the top four I don't think there is a better place for him to be than here," Boateng told BBC Sport.

"He is a great guy to have around here and his football is top class. I get the impression he wants to stay."

Woodgate's career looks to be back on track after a number of injury-plagued seasons with Newcastle and then Real Madrid.

In the FA Cup defeat at the hands of Manchester United on Monday he made his 30th appearance of the season - only the second time he has reached that mark in a campaign since 2000.

His form and fitness have led to him being linked to the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, while Boro's north-east rivals Newcastle are said to be keen to bring him back to St James' Park.

But Boateng added: "He is happy here, his friends are here, all the young players in the first team and the academy look up to him.

He seems to cruise through matches and hardly breaks a sweat George Boateng

"They realise what he has managed by going to Real and there is a possibility for them to do that as well.

"It will be hard to take if he does leave but if he goes to play for a team like Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea or Liverpool, who are going for the Champions League, you can understand that.

"But otherwise I don't think there is a better club than Middlesbrough for him.

"I hope he will not make a mistake by signing for another team outside of the top four.

"He knows my opinion. I have always told him I would love him to stay."

Middlesbrough's defeat by United all but ends any hope of European football returning to the Riverside next season.

Woodgate, who cost Real Madrid �13.4m when they signed him from Newcastle in the summer of 2004, has been one of the few highlights of a disappointing first season under new manager Gareth Southgate.

And his form has led to him returning to the England fold.

Boateng stated: "He seems to cruise through matches and hardly breaks a sweat, not because he lacks physical strength but because he reads the game so well.

"He is always ahead of the game, he knows where to position himself and I think he is the best signing we have had this year. He has filled a big gap.

"When the manager stopped playing we were very worried and did not think there was a player to come in and do a better job than him.

"It is a compliment to the manager that he signed a player that is even better than him."