Sunday 4 January 2009

Spurs Make 'Take It Or Leave It' Offer For Downing?

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is understood to have made a £12million ‘take it or leave it’ offer to Premier League rivals Middlesbrough for winger Stewart Downing on Friday night. Despite Boro boss Gareth Southgate declaring earlier on Friday that the England International would not be sold in January, according to The Mirror.

Redknapp has been tracking 24-year-old Downing for weeks and decided to make his offer after learning that Southgate had blocked the wingers exit from the Riverside Stadium to White Hart Lane earlier in the week, while Spurs were discussing a fee with the North East club.

Tottenham have made the England winger one of their main targets during the transfer window. With various swap deals being touted to make the deal go through, which included the possibility of left-back Gareth Bale being part of the deal to land Downing.

However, in light of the comments made by Southgate, Redknapp has decided to test the resolve of the board at Boro and make a straight cash offer of £12million to lure Downing to North London. It is believed that the comments from Southgate went against the signals the former Portsmouth boss was getting from officials at Middlesbrough, who Redknapp feels are open to selling Downing.

Boro are thought to value Downing in excess of £15million, with it remaining to be seen if the left-winger will become Redknapp’s first signing at Spurs this month in what is expected to be a busy month for the former Pompey chief.

Downing has been at Middlesbrough since 2001 and has scored 17 goals in his 164 Premiership appearances for Boro during his 7-years at the Riverside.

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