Tottenham make £11m bid for Stewart Downing

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is making a £11million bid to take England left-winger Stewart Downing from Middlesbrough.

Redknapp wants the Boro skipper to bring balance to his Spurs side and the club are willing to pay a huge fee in the transfer window.

Downing has been linked with Spurs before but this latest bid could finally see him move to North London from Teesside.

He could be tempted by Tottenham say friends and become the latest home-grown star to be sold by Boro - with boss Gareth Southgate well covered by England Under-21 kid Adam Johnson. Redknapp also wanted Downing at Portsmouth - and he knows that a genuine left winger is a must if Spurs are to progress.

Downing also has the added attraction of being eligible for European competition, which is still very much on the Tottenham radar in the second half of the campaign.

Boro will hold out for as much as possible but the time could be right for a sale.

His form has been inconsistent and he has made noises about a move.

Downing's latest display for England in the win over Germany made him new admirers, but Spurs are confident that they will be the biggest bidders for him in the New Year.

Liverpool and Aston Villa were in the hunt in the last window, but Rafa Benitez signed Albert Riera while James Milner arrived at Villa.

Now the way is open for Redknapp to complete the deal and end his long pursuit of Downing by making him one of his first key captures.

Redknapp is allowing striker Andy Barcham to spend a third month on loan with League Two Gillingham.

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