DOWNING & TUNCAY IN FRAME FOR VILLA; Football Spy: ORIGINAL GOSSIP COLUMN.. HOTTEST NEWS AND MOVES..RIGHT THROUGH THE TRANSFER WINDOW: O'Neill plans double swoop.Byline: JOHN CROSS MARTIN O'NEILL wants to take England winger Stewart Downing Stewart Jason Downing (born July 22, 1984 in Middlesbrough) is an English football player, who currently plays for Middlesbrough, and is in the England squad. A natural left-footer, Downing plays on the left side of midfield in a traditional winger's role. to Aston Villa. The Villa boss is also keenon signing his Middlesbrough teammate Tuncay in an pounds 18million double raid. Boro are resigned to losing both after their relegation from the Premier League. Downing, 24, is also wanted by Tottenham but Villa have stolen a march and have got cash to spend whereas Spurs manager Harry Redknapp Henry James "Harry" Redknapp (born March 2 1947) is an English former footballer who has had a long career in football management and is the current manager of Portsmouth in the English Premier League. must sell before he can buy. O'Neill fancies Tottenham's David Bentley
n. 1. The act of linking or connecting: a linkup of two orbiting spacecraft. 2. Something that serves to link or join; a connection. 3. again with his former Blackburn player. Downing fits the Villa mould perfectly,being a young English player. The only stumbling block is that he is recovering from foot surgery which will see him miss the start of next season. The Middlesbrough-born star would be keen to go to a club pushing for Europe to strengthen his World Cup hopes for next season. Tuncay also wants out of Boro, and had a good season despite suffering the drop at the Riverside. The Turkey forward would prefer to move to London but Villa hope to tempt him with a pounds 6m move. O'Neill is keen to build on his squad, and even if he captures Downing he will resist any interest in his England star Ashley Young. Villa also need a centre-back and they are keen on Portsmouth's former England defender Sol Campbell, now a free agent. CAPTION(S): TARGETS Martin O'Neill WANTED Stewart Downing is on Aston Villa's shopping list |
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