Liverpool’s summer rebuilding programme look sets to kick in once again with the club tonight confirming that a bid for Villa’s Stewart Downing has been agreed.
The official word from the Anfield club is that Liverpool now have permission to discuss terms with the England winger with a medical presumably to follow prior to the weekend. Reports state that the fee involved is £20 million; it’s suggested that Villa are set to immediately reinvest funds by acquiring Charles N’Zogbia from Wigan – we can only await developments there.
Tonight’s news follows weeks of speculation surrounding Downing’s future at Villa Park with Arsenal also thought to be entering the race for his services; Downing was discussed as a possible replacement for Samir Nasri who, according to Arsene Wenger, now looks set to sit tight at the Emirates for the final year of his contract.
Downing now looks destined to join the likes of Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam amongst the Liverpool ranks, a move that will be greeted with a degree of disappointment by Fantasy managers.
With Ashley Young already plucked from Alex McLeish’s squad, Downing looked well placed to offer mid-price potential during Villa’s favourable opening to the season. Liverpool, in contrast, have a far trickier start to the campaign and their tough away fixtures may well see Downing’s anticipated popularity take a dent as a result.
One possible advantage of the move – given the timing, is that Downing may well still be classified as a Villa player in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game and his price may well be kept lower as a result. There is however, growing concern when assessing the potential of Liverpool’s squad with the midfield now boasting an array of talent that looks certain to involve regular rotation of assets throughout the season.
We will put Downing’s prospects at Anfield, including the impact of his arrival on Kenny Dalglish’s burgeoning squad, under the microscope in a Scout Report to follow.
