According to the Daily Mail, Middlesbrough are ready and willing to let Stewart Downing go to Tottenham, but it’ll only be if they can get Gareth Bale in return.
Boro have rebuffed all suitors and their attempts thus far, but they could finally be caving in if they get what they want. There’s already a ready-made replacement for Downing in Adam Johnson, who’s been linked with Real Madrid, but adding the versatile Bale would give them another talented young option on the left.
Will Tottenham give up a promising player in Bale in order to seal the Downing deal? Sure, he has had his struggles since joining from Southampton last summer. However, he’s only 19, and considering that he missed much of last season due to injury, he’s still really finding his feet in the Premier League.
However, he could flourish at Boro, with their record for developing young players (like Downing), and with his versatility to play at left back or on the left wing, he won’t have a problem finding a place in Gareth Southgate’s side.
If things don’t work out with Downing, Spurs are also reportedly looking at Liverpool’s Ryan Babel as an option in January.
Should Tottenham give Bale more time to prove himself, and is Downing their best left-sided option out there?
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