TOTTENHAM will make a renewed attempt to sign Stewart Downing when the transfer window re-opens next month - and the Champions League hopefuls will use £2m-rated Sean Davis as bait for the Middlesbrough midfielder.

Spurs manager Martin Jol has made the capture of a left winger his priority for the January sales and, despite having an initial approach for Downing rebuffed in the summer, the Dutchman remains hopeful of prising the 21-year-old from the Riverside.

The Boro board turned down Tottenham's £7m bid in August, with chief executive Keith Lamb claiming the London's club "unsolicited offer" was of no interest to the Teessiders.

Downing has hardly kicked a ball since then, with an early-season knee injury sidelining him for more than four months of the current campaign.

He has returned to light training now though and, with a return to action planned for early January, Jol is ready to test Middlesbrough's resolve for a second time.

The Dutchman is assembling a highly-regarded collection of talented youngsters at White Hart Lane but, while Aaron Lennon and Wayne Routledge are tussling for a place on the right of midfield, options are much more limited on the opposite flank.

Edgar Davids and Andy Reid have found themselves on the left wing in recent weeks and, while Spurs have maintained their push into the top four, both are more comfortable in a central position.

The capture of Downing would solve the problem at a stroke and Jol has been promised significant funds for a January spending spree.

The Middlesbrough-born midfielder signed a new five-year contract in the summer, but Spurs officials are hoping to render it irrelevant by offering their initial £7m plus Davis.

Boro boss Steve McClaren has shown no inclination to part company with Downing, regularly citing his absence as one of the key factors behind his side's inconsistencies this season.

But, with a central midfielder high on his list of priorities, the inclusion of Davis in any possible deal is sure to be of interest.

The Lambeth-born midfielder, who was called into the England squad ahead of an ill-fated friendly with Australia, came close to joining Boro last summer.

After turning down the offer of a new contract at Fulham, McClaren attempted to lure him to the Riverside, only for Davis to plump for a move to Everton.

That transfer failed to materialise following problems with a medical but, after another season at Craven Cottage, the 26-year-old eventually left to join Spurs.

He was expected to dominate the Tottenham midfield but, with the likes of Michael Carrick and Hartlepool-born Michael Brown coming to the fore, managed just 15 Premiership appearances last season.

He has not figured at all this term and, by including him in any potential negotiations over Downing, Jol is hoping to twist Boro's arm.

The Teessiders currently boast two ball-winning midfielders but, significantly, both George Boateng and Doriva are out of contract at the end of the season.

McClaren's desire to sign Real-Madrid bound Roy Keane underlines his need to address the situation and, while the sale of Downing remains unlikely, Davis' availability could yet prove significant.

The Boro boss is aware of the midfielder's capabilities from his time with the England set-up and may choose to pursue him even if Downing is kept under lock and key.

Meanwhile, Nathan Porritt's representative has hinted that the teenage starlet could be set to sign his first professional contract away from the club.

Porritt, a 16-year-old Teesside-born left winger who is currently a schoolboy player with Boro, has been attracting interest from a host of Premiership clubs following a series of impressive displays in England's Victory Shield campaign.

Boro have already offered Porritt a two-year scholarship at the club's Academy next summer but, with Downing and Adam Johnson ahead of him in the pecking order, the youngster is currently assessing his options.

Newcastle, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs have all been running the rule over the teenager and Porritt's representative, Peter Harrison, insists he will not be rushed into a decision.

"Nathan is a Boro lad and supporter, but he has to look at the opportunities for himself," he said. "He has been offered a two-year scholarship but, as yet, it is not signed."

Dave Parnaby has been responsible for Porritt's development at Rockliffe Park, and Boro's Academy director is confident of holding onto a player who has already been described as 'the next Ryan Giggs'.

"Nathan has been with Boro since he was nine years old," said Parnaby. "We have nurtured and developed him into a promising young player.

"We hope and believe that Nathan and his family recognise that Boro is the right place for him to remain."