According to The Sun, Reds boss Rafa Benitez has identified the 23-year-old among his top targets as he seeks reinforcements for the wide-midfield roles at Anfield.
Benitez was leading the chase for Blackburn’s David Bentley but Tottenham Hotspur – who were close to signing Downing last summer – have since emerged as favourites to snare the Rovers wantaway.
But the Merseyside giants will have to fork out top dollar as Boro boss Gareth Southgate sees the England international as all but indispensable if the club wish to climb the table over the next few seasons.
Combined with the fact Downing signed a new deal in February tying him to Teesside until 2013, it is understood Liverpool will have to pay in excess of £10million to land their man.
Meanwhile, Boro chief executive Keith Lamb is confident of wrapping up the signings of James Harper and Didier Digard – from Reading and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively – before the commencement of pre-season training next month.
“We are pursuing a number of players,” he said. “The negotiations are going very well and we hope to have most of our incoming transfers completed before the players return to training on July 7.”
by Mike Maguire,Goal.com
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