Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp remains hopeful of landing a left-sided winger.
"The money is there. We tried to get Downing but Middlesbrough didn't want to sell him, so that's dead now," he told the Sunday Times.
"It's not going to change, so we move on. We need a left-footer to give us balance. Jamie O'Hara came on there against Burnley and did well, and Gareth Bale can move forward one from left-back and do the job, so we're not desperate, but Downing would give us that bit more."