STEWART DOWNING ON WAY

MIDDLESBROUGH are ready to spark a three-way scrap for Stewart Downing by selling the England winger in January.

Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City will fight it out for Downing and if they match Boro's £12million asking fee, will land the 24-year-old.

Club chiefs have fought off bids from Spurs and Rafa Benitez in the past but Sport of the World understands they are now receptive to a top offer.

Middlesbrough have England Under-21 international Adam Johnson and Marvin Emnes, who they bought in the summer, to replace Downing and feel they can use the money to strengthen other areas of Gareth Southgate's side.

Downing came close to leaving Boro last year, but at the last minute he signed a new, 32,000-a-week deal to stay with his hometown club.

However he has repeatedly spoken of his desire to one day play for a side with Champions League aspirations and he is set to get his chance.

The left winger's reputation rose dramatically following his starring role for Fabio Capello's England against Germany two weeks ago.

The feeling is that Downing has now established himself as an international and this could be the perfect time to sell.

Strength

For Downing, who has been at Middlesbrough since he was a kid, a move would enhance his international credentials with a World Cup just around the corner.

Tottenham have been on Downing's trail for three years and still see the left winger as one of the missing figures in Harry Redknapp's plans.

But City manager Mark Hughes has the financial strength to blow anyone out of the water and Benitez wants new blood in January to help his push for the title, despite the uncertainty surrounding Liverpool's financial position.

Southgate showed last year that he is prepared to make controversial sales for the good of the club when he let Jonathan Woodgate move to White Hart Lane to help David Wheater's development. He does not want to block the path of youngsters from the club's blossoming academy to the first team and he has the talent coming through to justify a sale.

He has splashed out £50m since he took over at the Riverside Stadium two-and-a-half years ago.

And the Boro boss has carefully slashed the huge wage bill he inherited from Steve McClaren with more than a dozen top earners leaving since 2006.

Strict

But Southgate has been told he will have to generate funds if he wants to add to a squad that is still short of the experience and consistency to push for the top five slot that is the manager's aim.

Southgate spent £12m on Afonso Alves last January but those kind of big-money transfers have been ruled out under a strict new financial plan.

He is instead likely to move for Standard Liege's 20-year-old midfielder Steven Defour, who he has had watched for the last six months.

There could be further sales in January if good offers come in.

Mido is also likely to be culled during the transfer window.

The Egyptian striker has not settled since moving from Spurs and has been unhappy with Southgate for leaving him on the bench for key games. Wigan lead the chase for his signature.