Championship pair Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday and Scottish Premiership side Rangers have been credited with interest in Middlesbrough midfielder Stewart Downing, it has been reported.
Sky Sports News reporter Keith Downie has claimed that Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday and Rangers are all interested in midfielder Stewart Downing, who will be leaving Middlesbrough upon the expiry of his contract.
Downie tweeted the news on Tuesday night (see below).
Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday & Blackburn are all showing an interest in Stewart Downing. The former England international is a free agent after leaving Middlesbrough.
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) May 28, 2019
Former England international Downing is available on a free transfer after leaving Middlesbrough at the end of the season and will be keen to keep on playing at a high level. Steven Gerrard has been linked with a move for his former England and Liverpool teammate, while Rovers and Wednesday are an option for the midfielder if he wants to remain in the Championship.
Downing has gathered plenty of experience at a top level over the course of his career, as well as playing over 100 games in the Championship.
He emerged through the youth academy with Middlesbrough and went on to become a fixture in their first-team during his first spell with the club. Downing made his debut for the club in April 2002 and in two separate spells with the club, he has played 399 games for Boro (Transfermarkt).
Downing left Boro upon their relegation to the Championship in 2009 to join Aston Villa, where he played 79 games over two years with the club. In 2013, he switched to Liverpool, playing 91 times, representing them in the Europa League as well, The winger also spent two years with West Ham United, before returning to Middlesbrough for a second stint with the club in 2015.
