Liverpool winger
Stewart Downing is understood to be considering a loan return to first club Middlesbrough.
Downing has had few first-team chances since the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as manager over the summer, and the £20million signing from Aston Villa in 2011 now looks certain to be offloaded in the near future.
There is already notable interest from Premier League rivals in the form of Everton and Sunderland, but the 28-year-old is refusing to quit Anfield on a permanent basis, and is still hopeful he can make the grade.
A temporary switch to Middlesbrough to restore his confidence and form now appears to be on the cards, with Downing keen to help the Teessiders with their push for promotion out of the Championship.
However, Downing’s wages could be a stumbling block, and sources at Boro, who are currently third in the Championship, say there needs to be further negotiations before a deal can progress.
Boro are unlikely to reach a deal before Thursday’s loan deadline, with a January switch currently most likely.
