



Stewart Downing is set to become the latest highly paid Liverpool player available for transfer, with Newcastle United a possible destination.

The Middlesbrough-born midfielder is valued at around €5.8million by Liverpool and has an uncertain Anfield future under Brendan Rodgers, despite forcing his way into the manager’s plans impressively in the second half of last season.

Downing was the subject of an inquiry from West Ham United last month and Newcastle are known to have an interest.

Downing joined Liverpool for €23 million from Aston Villa only two summers ago and was overlooked by Rodgers at the start of last season, having been told he could leave in January, before reclaiming his place.

The 29-year-old declined the chance to move in January and responded to West Ham’s recent interest by stating: “It’s not something I am going to consider.”

He added that Rodgers had told him “he’s happy for me to stay” but conceded: “If I’m not in the team and not playing that is a discussion we will have to have then but at the minute I have absolutely no reason to leave.”

He was an unused substitute in Steven Gerrard’s testimonial on Saturday and, with two years remaining on his €93,000-a-week contract and Rodgers hoping to increase competition for attacking places before the transfer deadline, Liverpool could be tempted by a permanent offer. Whether Downing feels the same remains to be seen.

Guardian Service