Liverpool are looking to get rid of winger Stewart Downing in a cut-price deal. The England international was bought from Aston Villa for almost $30 million in 2011, but now the Reds are willing to accept as little as $7.5 million for the 29-year-old. Downing hasn’t had the best if times since joining Liverpool, failing to score in his first 45 league games for the club. His move, along with the signings of Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll have been seen as flops by many in English soccer. And now Downing could return to his native North East and provide Newcastle extra competition on the flanks.
As Tottenham continue to bring more players in, there could well be more departures from White Hart Lane. Tom Huddlestone is rumored to be leaving Spurs, with Cardiff City offering $5 million for the holding midfielder. After Paulinho’s summer arrival, Huddlestone will slip further down the pecking order. The 26-year-old midfielder, who has won four England caps, has an incredible array of passes and can sit in front of the back four and protect it. He will want to play regularly, after playing just 14 league games for Spurs last year after struggling with injury. A quality player who would boost Cardiff’s midfield, if he can stay fit.
West Bromwich Albion are leading the race to bring in Scott Sinclair on a season-long loan from Manchester City. The 24-year-old winger wants regular soccer this term, after warming the bench for most of last season. West Brom are looking to bolster their attack after Romelu Lukaku’s loan-spell ended and Peter Odemwingie is close to leaving. Sinclair is being chased by plenty of mid-table PL sides but after West Brom finished eight last season, Sinclair may think he can help them do even better. He has the talent, as he proved at Swansea, now he needs to play regularly.
PSV Eindhoven striker Ola Toivonen is open to a move to Norwich City, as the Canaries continue their summer recruitment drive. Swedish international Toivonen has scored 59 goals in 125 league games for PSV and fancies a move to the Premier League. Norwich have already added strikers Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper this summer, but Chris Hughton wants a third top striker to help the Canaries push on. Toivonen, 27, is a clinical finisher who can also play underneath the front man. He’s been a mainstay at PSV for many years and would be a steal as he’s entering the final year of his contract.
Aston Villa are hoping to snap up Japanese international midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake from Nuremberg. The 23-year-old could cost up to $16 million and Villa are hoping the sale of Darren Bent, Shay Given and Stephen Ireland will finance the deal. Villa had a bid turned down for Kiyotake earlier this summer, but an improved offer could be hard for the Bundesliga side to resist. A creative midfield presence could be the final piece in Paul Lambert’s jigsaw as he aims to push on this season. The Japanese playmaker certainly fits the bill.
More: Monday’s Transfer Rumor Roundup, Abdulrahman to Arsenal, Defoe to West Brom
