MIDDLESBROUGH have invited Tottenham to renew their interest in Stewart Downing, despite the foot injury which could prevent the winger from moving on before the start of the season.

Boro were left infuriated by the way Spurs went about their pursuit of Downing in January, with chairman Steve Gibson refused to do business with the money men at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham were believed to have made a verbal offer f around £12m for the England international.

But after numerous conversations with the player during the winter transfer window, the Middlesbrough chairman insisted no deals would be brokered with Tottenham.

That stance could now be softening and his chief executive, Keith Lamb, has encouraged Tottenham to make contact, although there remains interest in him from Liverpool, Aston Villa and Everton.

“I wouldn’t rule anyone out and anybody in,” said Lamb.

“Spurs might find it very difficult to re-open negotiations on Stewart. It wouldn’t be the easiest of negotiations from Spurs’ point of view. But certainly I would take their call if they made it.”

With Downing still on crutches following foot surgery the chances of him leaving this summer have receded.

But Lamb has not ruled out the possibility of Downing moving on before the summer transfer window closes on September 1.

But there are hopes Downing will be back ahead of the specialist’s worst case scenario – a six month layoff.

“You can sell players when they are injured but again it needs someone to buy someone when they are injured,”

said Lamb. “You can do anything if they are willing.

If you remember we bought Robert Huth when he was injured.

“We said that it could be between four and six months.

I think that Stewart believes he will be back sooner rather than later. If we say six months is November then I expect him to be back in September.”

The sale of Downing would allow manager Gareth Southgate to reinvest in his squad.

There are expected to be numerous departures, with Fulham hopeful of taking Gary O’Neil to Craven Cottage .

“We need a balance. We need battling qualities but you have to play good football too if you want to win this league,” said Southgate, aware that Roma are monitoring Emanuel Pogatetz’s fitness with a view to a summer bid.

“In some respects I don’t see that being too different from the Premier League. I know we’ll be going to some difficult places to play some uncompromising teams but I don’t know if the football will be too different or any tougher than say Stoke City.

“We know we’ll have to mix it and be physical at times but you’ve got to play football too.”