Downing for £5m?

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...liverpool-fc-off-load-stewart-downing-5654489


The 29-year-old had no intention of leaving Anfield after being reassured by Brendan Rodgers earlier in pre-season that he remained part of his plans.

However, he now intends to hold talks over his future after learning of Liverpool's willingness to sell him on.

Downing played in Liverpool's opening three friendlies against Preston, Indonesia and Melbourne Victory but has been an unused substitute in the past two games against Thailand and Olympiacos.

Philippe Coutinho, Iago Aspas, Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe have all been selected ahead of him in the wide attacking roles.

Downing, who was the subject of interest from West Ham last month, wants to stay put and fight for his place. However, if he's informed he's not going to feature then he will reluctantly agree to a transfer.

Having battled so hard to establish himself as a first-team regular in the second half of last season, the England international doesn't want to go back to life warming the bench.

Downing, who has two years left on his contract, was told by Rodgers last November he could leave in the January transfer window but responded by kick-starting his Anfield career and played a key role in Liverpool's revival.

“I feel settled now,” he said recently. “The first year at Liverpool was difficult but once I established myself in the team last season I really enjoyed it.

“That's why I don't want to leave. If you are playing with good players in a good team then you don't want to lose that.”

Newcastle are signing Loic Remy on a season-long loan from QPR and hope to further boost their strikeforce with a deal for Aston Villa's Darren Bent. Toon boss Alan Pardew wants Downing to provide the service for them.

Downing, who grew up in the North East and started his career at Middlesbrough, will be part of the Liverpool squad who fly to Norway today. Rodgers' side face Valerenga in Oslo tomorrow night.



For £5m I'd be tempted? Put him down the left; Johnson down the right and give Giacherinni that free role through the middle?

 

better than aj by a country mile and half the price

 

do we really need him though at the mo? although for me, would depend hugely on his wages

 

It wasn't too long ago this was the winger who played a very good chunk of the season and his stats at the end of the season read 0 assists 0 goals.. he's massively overrated in my opinion. Big big no from me. AJ is gonna have a massive season for us and if there was a book running id have money that he will end the season as our player of the year.

 

Aj had a poor season by his own standards last season but I would still disagree with the above comment

 

Wouldnt gan that far, a yes from me

 

no thanks

 

Not imo, Johnson is better than downing like, though downing can be very good on his day

 

Paolo likes wide men who cut in. Downing doesn't fit our style and imo doesn't have the technical ability we need. The lad can hit a byline though but 5m +wages is an expensive bench warming something different option. Especially when we can just swap Giacc and AJ.

 

So Sess out of the team and Downing in?

No for me

 

What about the switch over?

 

Sess box to box?

 

What you mean mate?

 

The abilty to switch wingers over, as you like to say 'mixing things up mutha ****a'

 

wouldn't fancy him to do a good defensive lad, which is also why I don't fancy him on the wing

 

He is rubbish so no thanks.

 

but he wouldnt have to, question i'm asking myself, and you good sir is, can sess pick a pass? dunno me like?

 

He would. You can't play cm and not have to track runners etc. we'd get slaughtered man!

To answer the question I reckon he can, not a cross-field huddelstone-esque ball, but a clever through-ball, yes. IMO he has the vision for it. Hard to tell when there's no runners for him to pass to

 

so we are still in the middle of nowhere then?

 

eh