Should Brendan Rodgers bring Stewart Downing to Celtic?

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Should Celtic try sign the former England international and Middlesbrough man?

Sky Sports reported on Thursday that Stewart Downing is free to leave Middlesbrough after Garry Monk deemed him surplus to requirements.

And Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers should seriously consider bringing him South of the border as a result of that development.

Of course, Rodgers signed Jonny Hayes from Aberdeen last week in a move which might suggest that another winger is not high on his list of priorities.

But Celtic’s ongoing interest in Fabio Borini (via Sunderland Echo) might prompt the belief that the Northern Irish manager is still in the market for another wide option.

The Bhoys boss sold Downing during his time at Liverpool, but not being good enough for the Premier League giants does not mean you’re not good enough for the Scottish Premiership and Rodgers should consider another link-up.

And his past comments might suggest that he has retained an affinity for the ex-England international.

He told The Irish Independent in 2015, after selling him to West Ham in 2013: “Stewart was one I did not want to let go. It was a difficult start for him, but when we worked together at the beginning in the second part of the season he was one of the regular players so he wasn’t someone who I wanted to move on.

He and has done very well at West Ham. He is a really gifted player technically, he has a wonderful technique, he plays games and trains every day and is a good guy so it’s not surprised me how well he has done.”

At 32, Downing’s best days are surely behind him, but the winger could still do a job in the Premiership and his experience wouldn’t go amiss next season as Celtic look to replicate their success of last season, after winning a domestic treble, but making inroads in the Champions League will also be on the agenda.

He has two years to go on his contract but Middlesbrough’s reported willingness to sell him should indicate that they would not be demanding mega money.