Boro deride Downing bid

Downing: Going nowhere

Then they want to snatch other players for derisory offers and try to unsettle players.

Boro on Spurs
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• Gary O'Neil

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Middlesbrough have branded Tottenham's latest approach for Stewart Downing as 'derisory'.

Spurs have been tracking the England international for time and, with the transfer window now open for business, have tabled a bid for the winger.

The offer is believed to be around £6million, a figure which falls well short of Boro's valuation.

The North East club have now accused their Premier League rivals of attempting to steal their star man on the cheap, and club chief executive Keith Lamb has launched a scathing attack on Tottenham's transfer policies.

Bleated

"It is a derisory offer," Lamb told the News of the World.

"Who on earth do Spurs think they are?

"They bleated away when Dimitar Berbatov left for Manchester United in the summer - but they sold at top dollar.

"Then they want to snatch other players for derisory offers and try to unsettle players.

"That is what has happened here. Their offer is a joke.

"Why would we sell our best players to our nearest rivals? Stewart is going nowhere."

Back door

Middlesbrough have also been left disappointed by the manner in which Portsmouth have made their interest in Gary O'Neil public knowledge.

Lamb added: "Portsmouth are at it as well, sniffing around Gary O'Neil, trying to get him through the back door.

"We're close to Spurs and Portsmouth in the table.

"Why would we sell these clubs our best players?"