Stewart Downing is set to hand in a transfer request as
he attempts to force through his move to Liverpool.
The England winger is closing in on the switch to Anfield as he
bids to follow Ashley Young out of Aston Villa.
He has been the subject of summer interest from Liverpool boss
Kenny Dalglish, but Villa's £19million asking price has put a block
on negotiations.
Liverpool are refusing point blank to do business at that price,
and have already looked at alternatives in the form of Wigan's
Charles N'Zogbia and Dimitri Payet of St Etienne.
Downing, 26, realises the onus is now on him to revive the
potential transfer, by making clear his desire to leave.
It is not a new tactic for the player, who submitted a formal
transfer request when a player at Middlesbrough, and eventually
provoked his £12million move to Villa Park.
Now he is faced with the same situation, after refusing to
accept the offer of a new contract which has been put on the table
by the Midlands club.
MirrorFootball understands Villa would like to keep
Downing but reluctantly accept they may have to sell because they
need to help boost new boss Alex McLeish's transfer budget.
Darren Bent's shock £24m move to Villa Park in January was
financed by cash expected from the anticipated sale of Young and
McLeish would use funds from Downing's departure to bolster his
squad with a new keeper and centre-back as he is happy with his
attack.
McLeish has several targets, including two from former club
Birmingham who are demanding £10m for keeper Ben Foster and £12m
for stopper Scott Dann.
Downing, who has 27 caps, has two years left on his contract at
Villa but has refused to pen a new deal.
His agent told Randy Lerner in an end of season meeting he was
interested in joining Liverpool and Villa are keen to avoid a
repeat of the drawn-out transfer sagas surrounding Gareth Barry and
James Milner in successive summers.
Liverpool are also attempting to persuade Blackpool to part with
Charlie Adam, and talks will continue this weekend as Director of
Football Damien Comolli meets Tangerines chairman Karl Oyston to
thrash out a fee acceptable to both parties.
Dalglish will finance the moves by cutting much of the deadwood
at Anfield, and he is hoping to tie up deals for Raul Meireles and
David Ngog within the next week.
