Source: Telegraph
Stewart Downing nears £12m move to Aston Villa
The two clubs have been in dialogue for some time over the possibility of bringing Downing back to the Premier League, and now both clubs have come to an agreement over a price.
Villa submitted an offer of £10m this morning, with the potential fee rising to £12m with add ons. The deal could go through as soon as tomorrow with a medical unlikely to hold up the move despite the winger currently being injured.
The 24 year-old will in all likelihood be sidelined until October after suffering a broken foot – picked up, incidentally, in a tackle from Villa's Stiliyan Petrov in the second-from-last match of last season at the Riverside.
It had been thought that Villa's first priority was signing the Leeds United teenager Fabian Delph, and then finding defensive cover, especially a centre back to replace Martin Laursen, who retired last season due to ongoing injuries.
Nevertheless, should Downing move to Villa Park, there will surely be renewed speculation on the role of Ashley Young, who occupies the same position on the left wing as the Middlesbrough midfielder.
Young has already been mentioned as a possible Chelsea target this summer but Randy Lerner, the Villa owner, is adamant that the club will not consider any offer.
It is understood, however, that should a significant bid to be tabled – and it would almost certainly have to be in excess of £30m – it would in the very least be entertained.
For now, however, the club have received no contact from any parties interested in signing Young, and more importantly, they see no conflict between the two midfielders.
Martin O'Neill firmly believes that the two players can be accommodated in the same side. Rather, his arrival – in financial terms, at least – covers the departure of Gareth Barry, who joined Manchester City this summer for £12m.
It is unlikely that O'Neill will be turning to Downing to pick up Barry's penalty obligations though: as well as taking more shots without finding the net than any other player last season, Downing missed two penalties.
