Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate accepts they cannot hope to keep Stewart Downing unless they can match his ambition.

"That depends on us matching his ambitions," said Southgate.

"I've said I want him to go and achieve everything he wants to in his career but at this moment in time that must be here. Tottenham are one place ahead of us and it doesn't make any sense for us to sell our best players to them.

"There's no point in cashing in on people unless you can replace them - and we don't feel we could replace him at the moment.

"But as with all of our players, you have to prove to them that the club are moving in the right direction at the speed that they are happy with."