Downing to put in transfer request

[Boab 73]

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

Press Association reports claim that the 24-year-old will submit a written transfer request on Monday.

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.

Story from BBC SPORT:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi...ugh/7810560.stm

[chris_glasgow 2]

dont rate him at all

[Linfield 0]

Boro will miss him

[Muff 245]

He is pish!

[rfc_no1fan 13]

He has been murder this year.

Should have been dropped and replaced by Adam Johnston

If anyone pays more than £8 million, they will have been robbed

[chris_glasgow 2]

15 Million , ya can get someone in europe for a fraction of that who is better

[pcbear 10,924]

15 Million , ya can get someone in europe for a fraction of that who is better

Only in the "What credit crunch" loony toons EPL.

Also 12m for a Chelsea reserve full back Wayne Bridge wtf is that about.

[dezrfc1 26]

only ever see him use one foot

[Muff 245]

I thought he only signed a new contract not all that log ago?

£15m