Boro get tough over Downing approaches

Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb today told Tottenham to once and for all forget about signing Stewart Downing this month.

Reacting to speculation Boro had rejected a third bid for the 24-year-old amounting to £14.5m, Lamb said: “We again reiterate that no senior players will be leaving this football club during January. That is the end of the matter.

“Any ongoing media speculation is therefore meaningless and we will not continue to respond to it.”