SSN: "Downing won't commit to Villa"

[JJ-AV]

SkySportsNews Sky Sports News
Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy says Luka Modric understands he will not be sold

Ahh... The benefits of giving long term contracts to your players.

I'd be surprised if Modric will stay at Spurs when Yanited come calling.

Just saw Levy on SSN. There's no way he's going.

[Ads]

SkySportsNews Sky Sports News
Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy says Luka Modric understands he will not be sold

Ahh... The benefits of giving long term contracts to your players.

I'd be surprised if Modric will stay at Spurs when Yanited come calling.

Just saw Levy on SSN. There's no way he's going.

They've got to pay for that new stadium some how. Ridiculous season ticket prices will only go so far.

[hawkeye]

Spurs are a far more ambitious better run club than we are. They have some genuine top level players. They can keep Modric whilst we fret about a second rater like Downing.

[JJ-AV]

[Rigadon]

Another thing about Downing, would, after a lengthy and public flirtation with Liverpool, Downing be booed at the first opportunity?  I think he would and I don't think he'd have the character to overcome it

Has he flirted with them openly, though?

He's hardly sunk to the levels that shit heap Barry did with that cringemaking "please let me achieve my dreams" front page Evening Mail article.

Perhaps not Paulie, but Barry had a decade's 'service' to draw upon and people lining up to say how he'd be professional to the last.  To be fair he was as dependable as ever even after his Dream Move TM (puke) broke down. 

I just get the impression Downing would take flak due to his 'pansy' (how odd is that for a winger)  image in some quarters and this, crossed with his relatively short time here would mean a proper, hodge-esque panning would ensue. 

[tricky dicky]

daniel levy a great statement telling modric your not being sold i would love to hear randy lerner say the same to downing i want something positive to come out of villa park a statement of intent but all we hear is that villa want 19 mill

[Karl Bridges]

From the laughable Sportsvibe.co.uk

Kenny Dalglish has made Valencia winger Juan Mata a priority signing after Aston Villa rejected an improved offer for Stewart Downing earlier this week.


According to a report on the Mirror Football website, the Merseyside club upped their bid from the £12 million they tabled two weeks ago to a generous £15 million.

However, Villa are thought to be holding out for an astronomical sum of around £20 million, and Liverpool are not willing to shell out so much to bring the 27-cap England international to Anfield.

Despite clearly being keen to move on from the Midlands outfit having stalled with contract negotiations, Downing will have to find another suitor able to provide European football.

 

Meanwhile, Dalglish will look elsewhere to find a steady supply of assists for his new strike partnership of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez.

 

Given the immense form of Mata during Spain’s successful European Under-21 Championship campaign over the course of last month in Denmark, the Liverpool manager is likely to put together an attempt to raid the Mestalla.

 

Valued at close to £20 million by his current employers, Mata has achieved a great deal in the game in spite of his tender age.

 

Still just 23 years old, he has compiled 11 senior caps for his country, during which time he has scored four goals.

 

Though he was restricted to a single substitute appearance in the 2-0 group stage win over Honduras, Mata was a part of Spain’s squad throughout their run to World Cup victory in South Africa last summer.

Did Liverpool qualify for Europe then? Must have missed that.

[DB85 Yardley]

For £20mil I'll drive the smog affected twat up there myself, laughable amount of money for a player of his ilk (then again, so was the £12mil we paid).

Not sure why some are treating him in the same bracket as Young & Milner, no where near the class of them and he can be replaced quite readily in my opinion - he was the best of a pretty shit bunch last season so that's nothing to shout about.

I'm dreading Albrighton getting in the England squad as no doubt he'll be the next (along with Bent) to be brainwashed by Stevie Me or some other bellend into leaving us.

[Redman]

From tomorrow's Times:

However, Alex McLeish, the new Villa manager, is ready to play hard-ball with Liverpool over Downing. McLeish will inform the left-sided midfield player that he is not available for transfer and that he remains a key part of Villa’s plans for next season.

[willywombat]

daniel levy a great statement telling modric your not being sold i would love to hear randy lerner say the same to downing i want something positive to come out of villa park a statement of intent but all we hear is that villa want 19 mill

[/b]

Where did you hear that? ( Genuine question)

[hawkeye]

We are in deep shit if The Board thinks that a refusing to sell Downing is a statement of intent that we should all rally around.

[Mazrim]

We are in deep shit if The Board thinks that a refusing to sell Downing is a statement of intent that we should all rally around.

Eh?

[villa for life]

The thing is, if he stays, what kind of reception will he get from the fans. If he has a bad start to the season, he will be accused of not "having his heart" in it, and could lead to a downward spiral. In the worst case scenario, he'll have a falling out with the McLeish, won't play, and then will be worth half as much next summer, or nothing the summer after!

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

You could say the same about Moderic. He openly stated he wanted to leave. Now he has been "told" by Levy he is going nowhere. He will be in full swing after a full pre-season. Downing will be the same .........

[Lizz]

Mark Lawrenson on R5 this morning more or less implied it's an inevitable move.