Southgate: Hands Off Downing
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Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has issued a hands-off warning to any clubs hoping to lure Stewart Downing away from the Riverside Stadium.Left winger Downing had been subject to advances from Tottenham Hotspur in January, with the London club offering £10 million for the England international.
However, after signalling the club’s ambition through the signing of Afonso Alves, Southgate persuaded the 23-year-old to put pen to paper on a five year deal.
Spurs are once again rumoured to be interested in the winger this summer as well as Liverpool, who are looking to add to their Champions League bound squad.
Southgate is adamant that Downing is going nowhere however, and praised the ‘maturity’ in the player’s performances towards the end of the campaign.
"We have to accept there will be speculation about our players and, if they're the quality of Stewart and have had the sort of season he has, that's inevitable," said Southgate.
"Stewart knows exactly what I want to try and achieve here and, as far as we are concerned, he's not for sale.
"I fought long and hard to keep him and get him on a new contract during the course of last season and I think we saw an increased maturity in his performances towards the end."