Latest News as Downing Hands in a Transfer Request

While the Middlesbrough board looked upon this bid as little more than a joke it has been confirmed that on the 5th Downing's official transfer request had been considered before being rejected - and Keith Lamb, Boro's Chief Executive revealed that Tottenham had made an improved offer before the denial of Downings request to leave the club.

Downing's father, Stewart Sr. revealed that Downing had been frustrated since the summer due to an apparent lack of 'significant investment' from the club, and that Stewart was further frustrated by Boro's lack of improvement in the Premier League. Downing's exit has been speculated for the past 18months or so and it seems Tottenham Hotspur have long been the club linked to him, with speculation surrounding Liverpool in the past.

Perhaps now the time has come to offload Downing, with Johnson waiting in the wings - but only if a deal that is right for the club is made. If the Boro were to get £10m and Gareth Bale as part of a transfer deal I for one would be very satisfied, but as Spurs are highly hypocritical (you only need to look at the Berbatov transfer saga), it would be likely that Spurs have a highly inflated value upon the young Welsh Left back. As many people are saying if Spurs can buy Bentley for £18m Downing is surely worth at least that regardless of the changing economic times, although if we are realistic Boro should not even be considering offers until they are over the £12m mark, and hopefully towards £15m. If a player is set on leaving there is no point of keeping him at the club and perhaps the time is right for Downing to go - for the right price.