According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham are set to sign Middlesbrough’s Stewart Downing in a £12m deal.

Downing has been linked with an exit at Boro time and time again over the last few years, with Tottenham mentioned as a prime destination much of the time. Aston Villa have also been linked recently with Downing, who has 21 England caps.

Boro have rebuffed any interest so far, but could £12m be a price that’s too hard to turn down It’s never easy to replace your club captain and one of your best, brightest, and longest-serving players.

Downing signed a new five-year deal in February, and from all indications, he’s quite happy where he is. However, he might be looking to test himself with a club where he can play in Europe regularly, and that’s something that he’ll get sooner with Villa or Tottenham than he will at Boro, as much promise as they do have.

Given how much Downing has been linked with a move from past to present, this is a situation where reports can’t be taken too seriously until something concrete comes out.