Premier League - Middlesbrough block Downing exit

Eurosport - Tue, 06 Jan 09:01:00 2009

Middlesbrough have confirmed they have rejected Stewart Downing's transfer request amid renewed interest from suitors Tottenham.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Carling Cup - Rodrigo Possebon, Manchester United and Stewart Downing, Middlesbrough - 0

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb said the club had turned down an improved bid from Spurs and that any further enquiries about the player would not be welcome.

Lamb told the club's official website: "We received a written transfer request from Stewart this morning (Monday). It was considered before being rejected.

"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."

The England international, who signed a new five-year deal with Boro in February last year, has become frustrated with the club's perceived lack of ambition and is desperate to quit the Riverside in a bid to further his career.

Downing's father had earlier claimed his son has little choice but to leave Middlesbrough if he wants to fulfil his ambitions.

Stewart Sr told the Evening Gazette: "Stewart's been frustrated since the summer, really.

"When he signed his new contract he was assured that there would be significant investment in the squad.

"He feels that the club haven't matched those expectations. He's also frustrated that the team is once again struggling in the Premier League.

"Obviously as a Middlesbrough lad, he's thought long and hard about the decision to hand in a transfer request, and he also hopes the fans will understand his reasons for doing so."

Spurs are thought to have offered in the region of £11 million for Downing, who came through the ranks at his hometown club.

But Boro chairman Steve Gibson and manager Gareth Southgate have insisted they will not allow Downing - or any other senior players - to leave as they look to arrest a worrying run of form that has seen the club go eight league games without a win.

"I have categorically told (Spurs chairman) Daniel Levy their interest is not welcome, nor will we entertain any further offers for Stewart," Gibson said.

"None of our senior players will be leaving the club this month."

Southgate said: "I'm not under any pressure to sell any player. In the situation we are in now we don't feel it would be right to let Stewart go."

Meanwhile, Lamb denied further speculation that midfielder Gary O'Neil had also handed in a transfer request.

"We have not received a transfer request from Gary but if we did receive one it would be rejected, as would any offer from another club.

"We believe that this squad of players is strong enough to substantially improve our league position and we are committed to keeping the squad together."

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 16 - 35 of 95

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  1. Ambition? why would anyone with any ambition want to go­ to spurs? it makes no sense, might as well stay put if­ thats the only offer on the table!

    From nathan.flameguard, on Mon 5 Jan 5:10PM

  2. HOW CAN ANYONE SAY JUST LET HIM GO. HE HAS JUST SIGNED­ A 5 YEARS CONTRACT. ANY PLAYER WHO GETS A BIT­ DISILLUSIONED IS THEN GOING TO ASK FOR A TRANSFER. KEEP­ HIM THERE TILL IT SUITS THE CLUB. SPURS ARE HARDLY­ GOING TO WIN ANY TROPHIES ANYHOW. HIM AND BIG WOODY­ BACK ON THE WHITE LINES!!!!! SHOULD BE INTERESTING

    From paul, on Mon 5 Jan 5:09PM

  3. He says he's disollusioned with Boro not spending­ and their league position. Well pardon me ALVES wasn,t­ cheap and if his own personal form hadn't been so­ bad then perhaps Boro would be in a better position.­ Says to me he's ARROGANT !

    From Templegate2, on Mon 5 Jan 4:46PM

  4. Doubt it!

    From doubt.it.man, on Mon 5 Jan 4:44PM

  5. Downing should have very few ambitions in life, when­ you're not a very good a player you shouldn't­ believe in fairies.

    From miniroll32, on Mon 5 Jan 4:42PM

  6. If Downing didnt sign a contract extension he would­ have left for nothing and Mids would have nothing to­ show for it. Its better if your star players continue­ to sign contracts just so you can get money for them­ when they leave.

    From Tom, on Mon 5 Jan 4:27PM

  7. let him go hes not worth 11 mill just take there money

    From flyawaylph, on Mon 5 Jan 4:26PM

  8. totally disagree..hes signed a contract..make the­ bugger stay !!!!!!!!

    From butchkins, on Mon 5 Jan 4:17PM

  9. I agree with frichie79 such a over-rated player its­ untrue! whoever does buy him must be really desperate­ for someone with just a left foot!!!

    From Tim, on Mon 5 Jan 4:06PM

  10. So many eejits on these pages. How is he over rated? I­ wouldnt say anyone has rated him above what he is­ worth. He is a good footballer, proven week in week out­ with Mids. He one of the best, if not the best player­ at Mids, he has international caps, thus in the­ football world today that means he's double figures­ buy. Those are the facts. Thats how it goes. Saying he­ aint worth it, dont tell him or us that, tell the­ people who create this over priced football market! He­ is an asset even if he's not exactly remarkable,­ but then again their aint too many players in the­ Premship with a cross as good as his.

    From Tom, on Mon 5 Jan 4:01PM

  11. Downing is under contract until 2013. If he didn't­ want to be bound by it, he shouldn't have signed­ it! Let him get spelks in his a**e until 'Arry­ divvies up the £15 mill!

    From Paperboy, on Mon 5 Jan 3:53PM

  12. As an Avid Boro fan I say let him go ,£11m will get a­ couple of good midfielders and players that want to be­ there! Always thought he thinks hes bigger than the­ club that gave him his chance. Would be good to see him­ get back in with Woodgate as he was a good influence on­ him.....NOT!!! good luck spurs

    From coussens845, on Mon 5 Jan 3:43PM

  13. Let him go - the MOST over rated player ever to put on­ a pair of boots! Put all his 'talent' down his­ right side rather than his left and he wouldn't get­ a game for the Navigation Pub! Ok, he puts in the odd­ good cross - provided the full back gives him the space­ - he can't create his own! And when he hasn't­ got the ball he has no idea of positioning. Sell him­ before other clubs realise he aint worth the cash!

    From David, on Mon 5 Jan 3:38PM

  14. frichie79

    I agree,

    but why wóuld Arsenal spend about­ 20M (!) on arshavin who is clearly one of the most­ overrated things since sliced bread...
    Id rather have­ Downing (not Robert Jr) for 11M, than that Russian one­ hit wonder for 20M..
    Well actually, I'd rather­ would just have a pizza now.
    At least those things are­ affordable... (as long as some Arab didnt take over­ Dominos...)

    From Dave, on Mon 5 Jan 3:38PM

  15. That's not really much to say if a local lad does­ not want to play for his HOME team. Disappointed it­ has come to this but I really think that Downing will­ not be going to a 'better' team in Spurs!!!

    From Rachel, on Mon 5 Jan 3:30PM

  16. He better joins the top 5 teams if he wants to fulfill­ his ambition.

    From art_a, on Mon 5 Jan 3:25PM

  17. Arsenal wouldnt pay 5 million for him, so overated!

    From Iain, on Mon 5 Jan 3:24PM

  18. Agree with Josh as an avid BORO fan let Downing go if­ he feels he will achieve his DREAM ????? If Spurs pay­ 11 Million its all for an academy player who cost­ nothing. Adam Johnson is waiting in the wings and to be­ fair needs a chance and i feel he is more open to­ improvement than Downing is.Spend the money on­ strengthening the midfield.

    From axel1966, on Mon 5 Jan 3:20PM

  19. Middlesbrough are never going to be anything above a­ mid table prem team. Downing was neive to sign a­ contract hoping they could match his ambition. 11 m­ Does seem a bit high, but thats the way it is for­ English players these days. I think he'll be quite­ good for Spurs, but they need a lot more than just him.­ The bigger problem for Middlesbrough is that, if he­ goes, all there other good players (not that­ there's many) will want out too and no one will­ want to sign for a club thats selling there best­ players. Dark days ahead for Middlesbrough i think.

    From Richard C, on Mon 5 Jan 3:18PM

  20. Im a boro fan and i say let him go, hes the most­ overrated player in the premier league!!!! how he gets­ in the England team ahead of Ashley Young is beyond­ me... boro have a ready made replacement for Downing in­ Adam Johnson, finally he wont be living in Downings­ shadow and hel get the chance he deserves in the first­ team

    From lewis.ferguson, on Mon 5 Jan 3:13PM
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