Liverpool will have to offer £20 million to land Downing

Liverpool will need to seriously increase their valuation to land Stewart Downing.

The Anfield club were hoping to move swiftly to capture the England international winger as soon as Aston Villa appoint a new manager

Boss Kenny Dalglish values the player at around £10million, and given he cost that figure when he moved to Villa Park from Middlesbrough, and has only two years left on his contract.

But the Villa board see things very differently, and even though they don't yet know if Downing will figure in their new manager's plans, they have indicated any offer will have to be double that figure for them to consider it.

Downing, like team-mate Ashley Young, has decided his future lies elsewhere, and he is keen to move to Anfield after being sold on the Merseyside club.

He is a friend of Andy Carroll, and wants to become part of Dalglish's revolution, but it seems there is much work to be done if he is to get his his wish.

Young's imminent departure has put pressure on the Villa board to attempt to keep the rest of their players, and they are prepared to play hard-ball to at least ensure they have the funds to find an adequate replacement.

Young seems certain to go to Manchester United. He is about to enter the final year of his contract, and Villa know they must sell now to try and recoup the £8million they paid to Watford for the player.

But Downing is a different matter, and even though the player is desperate to go, there could be a struggle over the fee reminiscent of the wrangling that surrounded Gareth Barry's on-off move to Anfield two years ago.

Dalglish will need to offload several of his highly-paid fringe players if he is to generate the funds and clear the wage bill to snatch Downing, but remains confident he will get his man.

Source: Daily Mirror

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