Spurs net £12m Downing

zocoss SG

TOTTENHAM are set to land Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing after weighing in with a £12million bid last night. Spurs chief Juande Ramos offered £10m for the England star plus £2m-rated Finnish utility midfielder Teemu Tainio.

Downing, 23, is unsettled at The Riverside and told boss Gareth Southgate this week he was considering his future. A product of the famed Boro youth academy, Downing is ready for a fresh challenge and would welcome a move down south to White Hart Lane.

Former Spurs chief Martin Jol targeted Downing during his time in North London. And chairman Daniel Levy has now given Spaniard Ramos the nod to make his move. Downing is very highly thought of by Southgate. But doubts began to surface over his future after he admitted earlier this season that being booed by sections of the Riverside faithful had been hard to deal with.

Tainio, 28, has been in and out of the side under Ramos who also considered using out of favour England keeper Paul Robinson as bait to land Downing. It is a major blow to Southgate who was desperate to keep hold of the talented wide man. But the Boro boss will use the cash to land strike targets Afonso Alves of Heerenveen and Lyons Brazilian ace Fred.

Boro host Liverpool today and ROBERT HUTH could be forgiven for having sleepless nights at the prospect of facing Fernando Torres. But the defender is just happy to be playing after an injury nightmare.

Huth, who has started the last three games, said: It does your head in every day you cant get on the pitch. I thank everyone who has helped me to get back.

stellazio SG

finally they get a left footer.

a-Lost-9uY SG

ROBERT GREEN is a £6million target for Spurs boss Juande Ramos.

The White Hart Lane chief is looking to replace Paul Robinson and West Ham stopper Green is on Ramos list.

Ramos has had Green watched over the last month and is now deciding whether to test the Hammers resolve with a bid.

The two keepers have had contrasting seasons with Robbo being dropped by both England and Tottenham, while Green has been outstanding.

Green, 27, signed a new deal last year and is understood to be happy at Upton Park.

And boss Alan Curbishley will pull out all the stops to keep him after being made aware of Tottenhams interest.

Ramos, who had a bust-up with Robinson after the keeper was axed for Wednesdays clash at Arsenal, is also looking at Ajaxs Maarten Stekelenburg.

citymax SG

he should move and he will prosper under ramos

gunner77 SG

spurs really got alot of money Laughing

a-Lost-9uY SG

Paul Robinson for Boro

Paul Robinson could be on his way to Middlesbrough in a deal to bring England teammate Stewart Downing to Spurs.

Tottenham want to offload the keeper after manager Juande Ramos dropped him for their last two games.

Ramos is not willing to meet Boro's £10m valuation of Downing, but wants to use Robinson as a lure.

Robinson could be the long-term replacement for Mark Schwarzer with the Australian's contract up in the summer.
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But with Downing keen to leave, Boro could demand cash to give them the money to sign a new striker.

"I am aware and flattered by the interest of Tottenham," said Downing. And his agent, Ian Elliott added: "They play the type of football Stewart would like. They're a good, attacking team.

"If the interest was firmed up he would surely be interested in talking to them - but until a deal is done we can't take it any further.

"He's a local lad and if he left it would be with a heavy heart but sometimes you need to move on to better your career."