Stewart Downing next club odds - Fierce competition for former England international winger

Stewart Downing has been a man on the fringes in the last season at relegated Middlesbrough, with the winger apparently now surplus to requirements and can leave on a free transfer. What Are The Odds looks at who the host of candidates who are vying for the signature of the experienced Stewart Downing.

Birmingham City managed by Harry Redknapp are closing in on completing a deal with Downing and the odds of 1/10 (1.10) with Sky Bet bookmaker indicate a move is close and it would take a likely breakdown in talks for other competitors in the market to get anywhere close at this point.

The Birmingham Mail has suggested in the last 24 hours that a deal in on the table, but the club are set to face late competition for the England international’s signature, in the form of La Liga clubs such as Malaga and Espanyol (despite these clubs not even being considered in the betting market). However, the belief is that Downing is edging towards working with Harry Redknapp having missed the chance to do so at Tottenham a number of years back.

Brighton & Hove Albion, Premier League new-boys are the closest club in the running according to the odds, with a price of 10/1 (11.0) being offered, but the guarantee of first team football at Birmingham and in the Championship is likely to be the main factor in the decision making for the now 32-year old winger.

Aston Villa are another club looking to the past to create an exciting future for the fans, with the marquee signing of John Terry as the new club captain, Steve Bruce could be looking to Downing to strengthen the Championship title favourites bid for second time lucky in a top flight return. However, odds of 20/1 (21.0) signal that it’s highly unlikely, with the winger looking likely to go arch rivals Birmingham instead.

Probability of Stewart Downing's next club