Tottenham chiefs to meet £15m asking price for Stewart Downing

Harry Redknapp has persuaded his Tottenham chiefs to meet Middlesbrough's £15million asking price for winger Stewart Downing (above).

Spurs boss Redknapp has made Downing his No.1 target when the transfer window opens at midnight next Wednesday. And after Boro's dismal 1-0 home defeat by Everton, boss Gareth Southgate last night admitted he will have to sell before he can strengthen his squad.

Southgate conceded: "We need people who want to be here and who want to fight for the cause.

"The next few weeks will determine whether we keep this squad together. We are in a tough spot and have two options - walk away and hide, or roll up our sleeves and dig in and there's no way I'm ducking that challenge.

"Everton came here with no strikers but dug in, were gritty and determined, and we need to develop the same mentality."

Everton boss David Moyes heaped praise on Plymouth signing Dan Gosling, 18, after the midfielder's Toffees debut.

Moyes said: "Gosling was terrific. On another day he might have scored a couple of goals, but we have never been frightened to give debuts to younger players at Everton and he's another one of whom we have high hopes."