Premier League - Boro deny rejecting Downing bid

Eurosport - Wed, 07 Jan 09:44:00 2009

Middlesbrough have denied they have rejected a third bid from Tottenham for winger Stewart Downing.

FOOTBALL 2007-2008 Stewart Downing, scorer of Middlesbrough goal versus Arsenal - 0

Reports had earlier claimed Spurs had upped their offer to a package which would eventually amount to £14.5million, a little short of Boro's £15million valuation of their home-grown talent.

However, two days after rejecting the Londoners' second bid, which is understood to have been in the region of £11million with a further £2million related to appearances, the Teessiders were said to have given a similar response.

But Boro insisted that was simply not the case.

A spokesman said: "That's not true, we have not had another bid."

The latest developments have left the 24-year-old caught in a crossfire of claim and counter-claim with sources close to the player adamant Spurs have refused to take Boro's unwavering stance as a definitive 'no'.

However, chairman Steve Gibson, chief executive Keith Lamb and manager Gareth Southgate show little sign of softening in their approach to an issue which is refusing to go away.

The reports suggest Tottenham would pay £12.5million for Downing's services and a further £500,000 for every 30 appearances up to a total of £2million.

But Boro have refused to allow the departure of their most successful Academy graduate despite his stated desire to leave his home-town club.

The midfielder handed in a written transfer request on Monday after Spurs had already had one offer rejected as they launched their latest attempt to prise him away from the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough's response, as it has always been in the past, was unequivocal.

Lamb said: "We received a written transfer request from Stewart this morning. 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."

But having managed to push through their move to bring Jermain Defoe back to White Hart Lane despite Portsmouth's initial reluctance to part with him, Spurs are not giving up without a fight.

Gibson has never been afraid to battle for his club and with the Teessiders lying perilously close to the Barclays Premier League relegation zone, he has no intention of allowing one of his better players to leave.

However, he knows the only way he can provide Southgate with a transfer kitty this month is to allow him to sell, and it remains to be seen how he strikes a balance between the club's overall needs and the wishes of a player who has clearly made up his own mind.

Downing signed a five-year deal just 11 months ago, but his father has revealed that events since have left the player believing Boro's ambition does not match his own.

TeamTalk / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 12 of 12

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  1. leave boro alone maybe they will sell when the price is going down....

    From Addy N, on Thu 8 Jan 8:30AM

  2. Stewart Downing already miss 3 times penalty this season

    From SaMiR NaSRi, on Thu 8 Jan 8:13AM

  3. The whole Woody thing just pisses me off. He makes Downing's sister pregnant and they all want to play happy families down at Spurs. Clear off then Downing - the local dustmen won't be emptying your bins next week either!!

    From jason.cutler, on Thu 8 Jan 2:52AM

  4. The Woody and Downing White Line Express can start up agasin at Spurs, then they will wish they kept the cash.

    Take the £15M Boro, Johnson is a better prospect and the money will buy some quality fro the fight

    From pop2u2, on Wed 7 Jan 4:43PM

  5. Is Downing that good to cost 15m. I can't any elements that make him cost that much. Oh I now know: he is English. English players big-time @#$%.

    From Luxy, on Wed 7 Jan 4:06PM

  6. 15 million for a half decent player,take it then Boro' can buy 3 half decent players for their relegation battle

    From Russell G, on Wed 7 Jan 12:04PM

  7. What a biased piece of rubbish reporting. "Boro deny rejecting third bid" wouldn't there need to be a third bid for Boro to deny rejecting it? Oh look in the fourth paragraph you start to tell the truth that there was no third bid. I appreacite you dont have any talented journalists to go and make stories up so you need to reprocess other made up rubbish to try to make your site interesting and pull in visitors but this is poor even by your standards. On your news site is your review of the situation in Gaza "No more new days of fighting in Gaza" with the quote being in the fourth paragraph "todays fighting is not new, it is continuing from yesterday". Idiots.

    From Boro Doug, on Wed 7 Jan 11:58AM

  8. spurs are the most hypicritical team in the land, they were crying all summer when the mighty man utd were chasing berbatov and now they are doing the same to boro

    From kevin, on Wed 7 Jan 11:56AM

  9. I agree in part with the last comments from Mark but I do believe that Downing is only doing what 90% of modern day players do - look after themselves. I have no doubt that Downing is one of our better players and Adam Johnson does look sharper at the moment but quality replacements are hard to come across. If we do sell at circa 15 million it should certainly allow us to strengthen the squad in places where we are not so strong.
    Let him go, he's not worth that sort of money but if Spurs are prepared to pay it and he is disillusioned enough to think Spurs are anything more than a decent cup team, then all be it. Thanks for your service but we should be able to do a lot better with the cash.

    From mortgageandmoneycentre, on Wed 7 Jan 11:22AM

  10. He can trot off down to London and reaffirm his friendship with Woody a relationship that saw his form Dip as he started to believe he is a big time Charlie and put in a series of Lack lustre performances that has continued since day 1 of new season. If he is that good why are the Manc's or Scousers not beating a path to his or the clubs door for his signature.

    After all its not like we cannot replace him, there is one at the Riverside Younger Better and Hungrier His name Adam Johnson

    From Sand Dancer, on Wed 7 Jan 11:01AM

  11. Let Him Go

    From Sand Dancer, on Wed 7 Jan 10:57AM

  12. lets leave boro alone now, they will sell when their ready. We did'nt like the Mancs or scousers doing it to us!!

    From Wayne, on Wed 7 Jan 10:51AM
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