Could Downing leave Boro for Championship rivals Sheffield Wednesday? Steve Bruce wanted him in 2017, too.
Sheffield Wednesday are interested in offering Stewart Downing a fresh start at Hillsborough with his Middlesbrough contract set to expire in the next few weeks, according to the Northern Echo.
Downing’s second spell at the Riverside appears to have come to an end with Boro unlikely to offer the 34-year-old veteran a new deal after they failed to seal a return to the Premier League, finishing seventh in the Championship under the now departed Tony Pulis.
The Teesside Gazette reported on Wednesday that the former England international was set to hold talks over a surprise move to Rangers, which would see Downing reunite with his former Liverpool and Three Lions teammate Steven Gerrard.
Middlesbrough legend Tony Mowbray is also keen to bring the one time Aston Villa and West Ham winger to Blackburn Rovers.
But Sheffield Wednesday are in the race too, according to the Northern Echo.
The Express and Star claimed in the summer of 2017 that Steve Bruce was hoping to work with Downing at Aston Villa and the affable Geordie could finally get his man, two years later.
Bruce has done an impressive job since taking over at Wednesday in the winter and Downing’s experience and enduring quality could give them a platform to build a promotion-chasing campaign upon.
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