Downing set for Villa move

[Day]

Sky Sports News understands Stewart Downing is poised to join Aston Villa after Middlesbrough agreed a fee of £12million.

The England international had been widely expected to leave the Riverside this summer following the club's relegation to the Championship.

And he now looks poised to join Martin O'Neill's side in the Midlands after an accord was reached between his two clubs for his services.

Downing suffered a broken foot - ironically against Villa - in the penultimate game of last season and underwent surgery over the summer.

His recovery is progressing as planned but the initial diagnosis after he went under the knife on 22nd May was that it would take between four and six months to reach full fitness.

O'Neill is clearly prepared to gamble on the 24-year-old left-sided player making a full recovery as he looks to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season.

Downing handed in a transfer request at the Riverside Stadium in January amid strong interest from Tottenham, but a move to White Hart Lane never materialised.

However, his departure from his hometown club is now expected to be sealed in the coming days with Gareth Southgate's side accepting Villa's offer.

[url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5434395,00.html]http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5434395,00.html

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Never really impressed me to be honest and last season he was particularly poor, Boro are lucky to get £12m considering he's injured till Christmas, it will give Soutgate abit of spending money to strengthen the squad.

[Day]

Aston Villa have confirmed that they have completed the signing of Stewart Downing on a four-year deal.

The winger arrives from Middlesbrough for a fee believed to be around the �12million mark.

The 24-year-old passed a medical on Thursday despite currently recovering from foot surgery over the summer.

Downing picked up the injury in the penultimate game of last season, against Villa, when he was on the receiving end of a Stiliyan Petrov tackle.

The England international is not expected to be fully fit until October but Villa manager Martin O'Neill has decided to move for the left-sider in any case.

Downing was always expected to leave the Riverside this summer, with Tottenham also said to be interested, but it is Villa who have won the race to snap up the wide-man.

[url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5436750,00.html]http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5436750,00.html

[derbydan]

good move for him and boro maybe a master stroke for o'neil seeing as they wanted £18m+ for him before he got injured just a risk though paying that much for a player that will be injured till around christmas time

[rams71]

very average player,he's nowt special in my eyes cos his final ball in is always crap

[Perky1106]

Originally posted by rams71;23824

very average player,he's nowt special in my eyes cos his final ball in is always crap

This.

If he really was special, Middlesbrough wouldn't have been doomed.

[Thornhill]

is Ashley young special? He was at Watford when they were in the prem. One player can't save a team, Downing isn't awesome but he isn't exactly bad, either.

[Day]

He was very poor last season, didn't score all season did he? you need your wingers to chip in with a few goals. Maybe his head was down after being told to stay I don't know but after last season he's got alot to prove.