http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Stewart-Downing-c34221, is set make an exit from Anfield in January, some sources have learnt.
The English International, who made an extravagant entry to the club following his 20 million pounds move from Aston Villa last year, has suffered a dismal spell at Merseyside thus far.
The forward remained a regular member of the playing eleven under Kenny Dalglish’s management, but it yet to impress the new Anfield boss, Brendan Rodgers.
Although the Ulsterman has operated Downing in multiple roles, testing him upfront in the left wing and recently deploying him in a more defensive role, the manager has now apparently given up on the 28-year old.
Earlier, Rodgers had slapped a warning at the player to improve on his game or risk facing an uncertain future at the club. He was also advised by the former Swansea City chief to start looking for alternative options if he wishes to get more playing opportunity.
The rumours were confirmed very recently by Downing himself, who revealed that Rodgers has given him permission to make an exit from Liverpool in the January window.
He said that he had reached that stage of his career where he needs to be involved more on the field, and that he was seriously contemplating the option of leaving Liverpool.
“The manager has said I can leave if I want to. I think it’s just the nature of football, the old cliche about it being a funny old game is true,” he is reported to have said.
“I’ve played for a long time and there are spells when you can be in and out of any side. At the minute I’m trying to play as much as possible.”
“If that doesn’t happen I am at an age where I cannot be sat around. I need to play and the manager understands that.”
According to some sources, clubs such as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429 and Middlesbrough will enter the race to claim his signature in January. The Reds will not be getting anything close to what they paid for the winger back in summer last year. It is rumoured that any offer
in the proximity of 10 million pounds will be good enough for the Merseyside club to do away with the player.
Downing has made a couple of starts for the Reds recently, but has lost his regular position at the left wing to Jose Enrique. Besides, the club have a quality left-back in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Glen-Johnson-c15050, meaning that there is very little or no chance for the player to cement
his place in the team.
Tags: