England international Zat Knight will be sold by Fulham as boss Chris Coleman cracks down and seeks to raise some badly-needed funds, according to The Sun.

Knight has recently lost his place but will also open the door for a sale in the New Year window because Coleman is unhappy – and also short of cash to buy.

The big defender recently signed a new contract and Fulham turned down two £4million bids in the summer.

Middlesbrough will be back again for Knight, although they may offer less. Manager Steve McClaren liked what he saw of him on the England tour of America.

But Aston Villa are also interested and David O’Leary will have money to spend, whether Doug Ellis is in charge or the new owners come in.

Knight, right, would prefer a move to the Midlands – he was a boyhood Villa fan.