Sunderland reportedly want to sign Stewart Downing from Championship side and North East rivals Boro.
Middlesbrough have reached an agreement that allows them to include Stewart Downing in the starting XI again, although the Sunderland target is still expected to leave on a free transfer this summer, as reported by Gazette Live.
The 34-year-old’s future has been the subject of plenty of intrigue in recent weeks with the news breaking that Middlesbrough would be forced to hand Downing an automatic, 12-month contract extension if they gave him his 22nd Championship start of the campaign.
As a result, the former England international has been left out of Tony Pulis’s XI since December, though he has frequently been brought off the bench.
But Gazette Live reports that a breakthrough has now been reached. Downing has agreed fresh terms which allows Pulis to play him from the start without triggering an extension that would tie him down to 2020.
One of Boro’s highest earners, who has also played Premier League football for Aston Villa and Liverpool, is now expected to leave on a free when his contract expires in July.
This could open the door for Sunderland, who apparently want Downing to make the short trip to Wearside in the summer.
The Northern Echo reported last week that the winger was also a target for Rangers but he would prefer to join Sunderland for family reasons.
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