Downing seeks Middlesbrough exit

[dww]

From the BBC:
Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing could be set to leave the club.

Downing, who has 21 England caps, signed a new five-year deal in February last year but is rumoured to have become increasingly unsettled recently.

Tottenham have been keen to sign Downing for some time, and had a reported bid of £6m rejected and termed "derisory" by Boro last week.

Manager Gareth Southgate has repeatedly stressed that local boy Downing would not be sold.

The Teesside club are under no financial pressure to offload one of their most prized assets, but Southgate is not thought to have been previously aware of Downing's desire to leave.

His view may now become similar to the scenario involving Ayegbeni Yakubu when he made it clear his future lay away from the Riverside Stadium, and was swiftly allowed to leave.

Boro's valuation of Downing is nearer £15m, which would smash their record transfer sale, but it remains to be seen if Spurs will have the same opinion.

[Craig_H]

Good player who'd flourish at a big club, IMO.

£15m would be a massive gamble though, not sure he's worth that much yet.

[wiw]

SSN was saying earlier that he was going to hand in a transfer request

[Craig_H]

SSN was saying earlier that he was going to hand in a transfer request

Gareth Barry, take note.

[dww]

Good player who'd flourish at a big club, IMO.

£15m would be a massive gamble though, not sure he's worth that much yet.

Would you consider Babel out - Downing in?

[Craig_H]

Would you consider Babel out - Downing in?

I'd rather stick them both in the fly machine.

Babel has all the raw talent but a **** mentality. Downing's a more 'steady' type of player than an explosive one. More of a Riera type, intelligent and mature but without blistering pace or any kind of 'spark' to him.

I suppose Downing would have more of a benefit to the team overall, without necessarily shining as an individual - and i like players like that.

But the problem is, we have so few match winners in our squad and Babel could be one, if he stopped being a wally.

[Darkon]

Would you consider Babel out - Downing in?

That is a really though one that. Had you asked that question at the end of last season, I would have said no fecking way, babel is going to thrash the premiership next season.

Asking today it is harder to answer, because babel has been a huge letdown so far. For all his talent and pace he has to little end product.

I would however say that Downing is of no interest as long as we have Riera on the left wing. Neither Riera or Downing are versatile enough to play on the right, so it would be a waste of money having both in the squad.

[AFII]

Would you consider Babel out - Downing in?

No.

Sell Babel and sign a right winger.

[Jayesh87]

No.

Sell Babel and sign a right winger.

Play Downing on the right

[Joe King]

Play Downing on the right

Are you Houllier in disguise?

[AFII]

Middlesbrough have rejected Tottenham's revised bid for Stewart Downing, and also the player's transfer request.

Skysports.com understands that after having an initial £6million bid rejected at the weekend, Spurs came back with an £11million offer plus add-ons.

However, Boro chief executive Keith Lamb has confirmed that both Downing's request and Spurs' new bid were rejected.

"We received a written transfer request from Stewart this morning. It was considered before being rejected," Lamb revealed.

"Prior to receiving the transfer request, we received an improved offer for Stewart from Tottenham.

"We immediately rejected this offer and informed Tottenham that Stewart Downing is not for sale and any further interest they have in the player will not be entertained."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...750318,00.html