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Boro ready to sell
Middlesbrough, 12:47, May 30, 2009 ,
Middlesbrough have told Stewart Downing he is free to leave the Riverside in the summer, but only if a 'top-four' club come in for him.
Downing is facing a few months on the sidelines with an ankle injury but once he returns to full fitness there will be a queue of clubs lining up to sign him.
Tottenham are known to be very keen but Boro chairman Steve Gibson has hinted he will only be allowed to leave if Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea come in for him.
"We had an unspoken agreement that if the right club came in, and I believe Stewart is a top-four club player, then we wouldn't stand in his way. It's a short career," said Gibson.
"There comes a point where a player must sit down and, without emotion, make a decision about their career. He has five or six years left at the top. Can I offer him European football? No. Does he deserve European football? In my opinion, yes."