MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 20:34:05| >> :120:29085:29085:

Aitor Karanka blocking Stewart Downing's loan move to Crystal Palace?

Karanka blocking Downing's Palace move?
© SilverHub
A report claims that Middlesbrough midfielder Stewart Downing will only be allowed to leave the club on loan this month if he joins a Championship side.

Stewart Downing reportedly favours a loan switch to Crystal Palace after being told that he can leave Middlesbrough, but boss Aitor Karanka is unwilling to send him to a Premier League rival.

The ex-England international is thought to have been in a transfer tug-of-war between Palace and Newcastle United, who were both keen to add his experience to their midfield ranks this month.

Downing was supposedly informed that, having not played a full 90 minutes for the Smoggies since October and largely been used from the bench in recent weeks, he was free to choose his destination for the remainder of the campaign.

According to The Telegraph, however, the 32-year-old is now on a collision course with boss Karanka as he feels he still has enough to offer in the top flight but may not be given the chance to prove it.

Karanka is said to have ruled out offloading to a direct relegation rival, with Palace currently directly below them in 17th place in the table, but it is not known if Newcastle are still interested in the former Liverpool ace.

ID:289242: cacheID:289242:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2010:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Stewart Downing in action for Middlesbrough on August 28, 2016
Read Next:
Palace, Newcastle 'lead race for Downing'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!