Boro shut door on Downing deal

Chief executive Keith Lamb attempted to draw a line under a saga that began several years ago, but has gathered pace in recent weeks, when he insisted the 24-year-old England winger will not be sold this month.

His comments came amid speculation, earlier denied by the Teessiders, they had rejected a third offer amounting to £14.5million for Downing.

Lamb said: "We again reiterate that no senior players will be leaving this football club during January. That is the end of the matter.

"Any ongoing media speculation is therefore meaningless, and we will not continue to respond to it."

Whether that is indeed the end of the matter remains to be seen, although Spurs are now understood to be considering other options in the belief Boro are unlikely to soften their stance.
That will come as a blow to Downing, who has held several rounds of talks with the club's hierarchy since his written transfer request was rejected on Monday.

Tottenham last week offered a package of up to £8million for a man who only signed a new five-year deal in February and, before the player formally asked to leave, increased their bid to around £13million, £2million of that dependent on appearances.

Reports have suggested the Londoners then returned with an offer of £12.5million up front followed by four instalments of £500,000 each time the midfielder completed 30 games.

Boro insist that bid was never received, although sources close to both Downing and Tottenham are adamant it was made.

But what is certain is it would take a major sea-change in the Teessiders' approach for them to allow the home-grown talent to follow the path trodden by Jonathan Woodgate 12 months ago.

Then, Boro decided an offer of £8million for the defender was simply too good to refuse with David Wheater having emerged from the ranks, and that in part funded their £12.7million swoop for Brazilian striker Afonso Alves.

There is a ready-made replacement within the squad for Downing - fellow Academy graduate Adam Johnson - but with Gareth Southgate's side currently entrenched in a battle for Barclays Premier League survival, they are in no mood to do business with a club in similar difficulties, and particularly one they believe has actively unsettled one of their prize assets.

Today's riposte is unlikely to come as a surprise to Spurs, who were told in no uncertain terms not to bother making another offer on Monday evening.
Lamb said then: "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."

Should Boro remain stubbornly opposed to allowing Downing to leave - and chairman Steve Gibson is famously not a man to be swayed - Southgate faces the prospect of having to deal with a player who has made it known he believes promises made to him when he signed his new deal have not been kept.

Downing will know, too, he will face a backlash from the stands at the Riverside Stadium, and a failure to produce his best form in whichever colour shirt he is playing will do little to enhance his chances of retaining his place in Fabio Capello's England squad.

Southgate admits he has no money to spend this month unless he generates it himself, and equally is aware of the difficulties in working with a player whose heart is no longer at the club.

With midfielder Gary O'Neil also understood to be keen to return to Portsmouth, Boro face an uncomfortable few weeks before the transfer window closes.

But Lamb's statement also appears to have dashed any hopes Chelsea and Wigan had of signing Tuncay Sanli and Mido, respectively.