Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka: 'Hard to sign Stewart Downing from West Ham'

Aitor Karanka has admitted that it will be "difficult" to sign a player of Stewart Downing's calibre for Middlesbrough this summer.

Boro are reportedly keen on re-signing Downing, who left the Riverside for Aston Villa six years ago, from West Ham United this summer.

However, Karanka today admitted at a press conference that it would be hard to bring a player like Downing to the Championship.

"I can't say anything about Stewart as a player because everyone knows him," Karanka told reporters.

"It's difficult to get that kind of player because he is a Premier League player. We are trying to get the squad as good as we can. I prefer to only sign players who can improve the squad."

Karanka also revealed today that it was unlikely that Boro would be able to re-sign Patrick Bamford on loan from Chelsea after he impressed in a season-long stint last term.