Boro confirm Cattermole bid

Interest in England Under 21 international

By Graeme Bailey   Last updated: 22nd July 2008

Lee Cattermole

Cattermole: Wanted

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Middlesbrough have confirmed that they have received a bid for England Under 21 international Lee Cattermole.

The Teesside-born midfielder is understood to want regular first-team football, something which manager Gareth Southgate cannot guarantee.

Now the interest in his services is mounting and a bid has been lodged, with Wigan understood to be the team in question.

Southgate said: "We have had interest in Lee, along with a couple of our other young players.

"There has been a lot of loan interest in him and we have had a tentative offer, but that's as far as it has gone at this moment in time."

Southgate would like to keep Cattermole, but it is believed he will not stand in his way if he wants to leave the club.

Downing

Southgate has also reiterated that Stewart Downing will not be leaving the club this summer.

The England international only signed a new five-year deal last season, but that still has not stopped further speculation with Aston Villa and Liverpool said to be interested.

However, Southgate has no plans to let Downing depart and insists nobody has enquired about him.

"Stewart Downing is not for sale, it is as simple as that. We know

his value," he said.

"We get calls from lots of clubs about people, but we have not had any about Stewart.

"It surprises me when there is all the speculation because if people are interested in buying, it would be nice if they made contact with us and then we could just tell them straight to their face that he is not for sale.

"But that's part of the summer transfer merry-go-round. You have to deal with that speculation.

"I always say to the players, as long as they focus on fact and what they know and what I tell them - because I am very honest with them - then there is no problem."