Premier League - Downing 'hands in transfer request'

Eurosport - Mon, 05 Jan 13:44:00 2009

Wantaway Middlesbrough midfielder Stewart Downing has reportedly handed in a transfer request.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Middlesbrough Stewart Downing - 0

The 24-year-old has emerged as a target for Tottenham this January and Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has already lodged a bid for the winger.

But Boro are determined to keep one of their biggest stars and club chief executive Keith Lamb dismissed the bid - thought to be in the region of £6 million - from the White Hart Lane outfit as "derisory".

Manager Gareth Southgate has repeatedly insisted the England international is simply not for sale.

However, Downing's decision to submit a transfer request could force their hand with Southgate admitting when striker Ayegbeni Yakubu made it clear his future lay away from the Riverside Stadium that there was no point in hanging on to players who did not want to be there.

On Sunday Southgate claimed Downing has remained unaffected by speculation over his future after his starring role in the FA Cup victory over Barrow.

The Boro boss said: "Stewart played in the middle of the park for us on Monday night (at Manchester United) and I think it has given him something else to focus on. It has given him a freshness and I think it gave us a bit more creativity."

Southgate is under no pressure to sell, although he had made no secret of the fact that he will have to raise his own funds if he wants to buy this month.

Boro value Downing at closer to the £15m mark but it remains to be seen whether or not Spurs, who have been admirers for several years, are prepared to go to anywhere near what would be a record transfer fee received by the Teessiders.

Downing signed a new five-year contract on February last year, but it is understood he has become increasingly unsettled in recent months and is now ready to test himself away from the club where he has become the highest-profile graduate of a productive academy.

The local boy has won 21 senior England caps to date, the last of them in the 2-1 win over Germany in Berlin in November, a game which earned him impressive reviews.

Boro are also on the verge of losing Mido during January.

According to the striker's brother, a number of Premier League sides have already been in contact to express their interest in signing the 25-year-old Egypt international.

"Mido is on the verge of leaving Middlesbrough because he wants to play regularly," Hossam Wasfi told FilGoal.

"He was approached by some mid-table clubs in England, but is still considering his options regarding the next move."

Wigan had looked the most likely bidders for Mido, but his brother insisted this was an unlikely move.

"I don't think Mido is tempted by Wigan, even though they are interested," he added.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 11 - 30 of 30

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  1. Why would Downing want to play in games of 20,000 and less when he can play for a big club and further his England chances;playing in the championship next season will not benefit him.

    From Mitsy, on Wed 7 Jan 9:22PM

  2. I have to say that as a boro fan i am unhappy that downing wants to go,but understand his reasons how hard is it for any player that plays north of manchester to make it into the england team and get recognition for that from the southern media also it would make sense for us to sell him as we have another good left footer in adam johnson who isnt getting his game because downing is so good but maybe he could be better if he gets some gametime. If we sell him I'll take 10 million and Gareth Bale plz!!lol

    From ken, on Tue 6 Jan 7:43AM

  3. Downing does the right thing spurs are better and middlesbrough have replacement for him but maybe he won't be in the first team as Aaron Lennon can perform by the way im 10 years old

    From Adrian, on Mon 5 Jan 9:00PM

  4. Tommihew - Ok fair play i understand what you are saying....now! It was hard to make much sense out of your first post. And yeah i too think £5m is a fortune that no 'player' is worth. Its madness. I wonder how much longer top flight football will continue to trade with such disgusting amounts of money before it pops?

    Ive just seen your post about Chelsea fans not giving Bridge stick for going - id guess thats cos they forgot they had him. When Mourinho was there Chelsea seemed to buy players just to stop other teams having them.

    From Dominic, on Mon 5 Jan 5:57PM

  5. £15m just how can they value him at that price. In my opinion he's worth around £7 or £8 m. I mean no wonder managers like wenger don't buy English players. Remember jeffers 9m, where is he now? Obviously downing is a much better player but anything over 10m would put undue pressure on the young lads shoulders. But in this current cimate you never know much club are willing to sell their players for!

    From Manicman, on Mon 5 Jan 4:47PM

  6. downing is a class act(im a sunderland fan by the way) and far better than most at spurs never mind boro'
    he will go for about 11 to 12 million

    i would welcome him at sunderland anyday...get your cheque book out ricky!!!!!!!!

    From geordieprince1, on Mon 5 Jan 2:09PM

  7. Nah dom youve not quite caught onto what i was getting at, bless.
    Im talking about 2 types of "really" because Peri seemed to be getting them confused. 1) "really" is that i dont think any player, nor anything is really worth 5 million. Its a huge amount of money, and its quite disgusting how such money just gets chucked around when there are so many bigger issues in the wrold than sport. 2) "really" is the reality of the football market we experience, and that "really" says that as a clubs best player, and seeing as he has English caps and will get more caps, then double figures is what the going rate of a player like Downing is "really" worth in todays football.

    From Tom, on Mon 5 Jan 2:09PM

  8. let him go! A.J. on the wing is a far better player!

    Dowing is nothing flash and we have far more tallent in our youth team, as a season ticket holder i will be glad to see the back of him.

    From andrew, on Mon 5 Jan 2:08PM

  9. Downing is by far a greater player than we allow him to be. WIth a decent team ( NOT SPURS ) he will shine to his true potential. I shall be sorry to see him move on but he deserves to be around a bigger club that has more potential than we can offer him. I thank you for the service but GO!

    From francis8985, on Mon 5 Jan 2:00PM

  10. Tommihew - your post made no sense other than to spectacularly contradict yourself. Tell me, if Downing is worth 10 or more 'given the current climate and the fact he's played for his national team' then how the hell do you work out that Ronaldo is worth 5?!?!?!?! Ok we get that you obviously hate him - many many do, but surely 'given the current climate and national team issues' Ronaldo too would be worth more?! I guess its irrelevant that your evaluation is laughable as your post pretty much is as well....

    If i was Harry id offer £5m topps - he's not a bad winger but not a great one either.

    From Dominic, on Mon 5 Jan 1:52PM

  11. oooh Sarah, thats just bitter. notice how most Chelsea fans accept that Bridge needed to move on. He has put in work, has respect from the fans, but they all know he deserves 1st team action. Downing has given hard work, skills and respect to Mids club and fans, both should accept that its his time to move somewhere bigger to progress in his football career. And he should be backed and thanked by the club and fans.

    From Tom, on Mon 5 Jan 1:49PM

  12. get shot of him for the best possible price, lets face it Woodies done well at spurs ain't he lol , real move up the ladder spurs are lol, at least Adam Johnsons progress will not be impeded by him anymore, Adam is a better player anyhow, more to his game, good riddance, the neck of him to big for his hometown club who are in the premier!! pure ungrateful IMHO

    From SARAH, on Mon 5 Jan 1:31PM

  13. He's Mids best player, he has international caps, and at this time, and the way wages and transfere fees are, he is worth 10, quite easily. You can say, but really he's worth 6-8..but then again really thats not the climate we live in. Really i can say Ronaldo aint worth more than 5 but then again thats the climate we are in when it comes to football over inflated prices, international caps, and being a key player for the squad all add up to double figure transfere.

    From Tom, on Mon 5 Jan 1:21PM

  14. let's be honest now, downing is worth between £6 and £8 mil, anybody who thinks he's worth more are clearly biased or blind (or both). i seem to think the £15 mil figure is only being bounded out because he's played for England, who let's face it are not world beaters. good luck getting £15 mil for an average player though.

    From peri, on Mon 5 Jan 1:15PM

  15. just shows how much you see downing play

    From Tom, on Mon 5 Jan 1:00PM

  16. Middlesborough's valuation is laughable. Even Spurs' bid is about three times too much. Downing is worth about 2m max. This just shows the over inflated prices clubs are prepared to pay for mediocrity these days.

    From Peter S, on Mon 5 Jan 12:48PM

  17. chris, true, but he's a good sub for him.

    From Tom, on Mon 5 Jan 12:07PM

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  19. im 8 years old

    From rosando2007, on Mon 5 Jan 12:05PM

  20. As a Boro fan this is great news for me! I just hope we can get 12-15 million for him and I will drive him to London myself!!

    From michael b, on Mon 5 Jan 12:03PM
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