Tottenham remain keen on Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing.

Claims Juande Ramos has had second thoughts and instructed the money men at White Hart Lane to back out of negotiations are believed to be wide of the mark, says the Northern Echo.

Sources close to Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy insist he remains confident an agreement can be reached, although it remains to be seen whether the £12m valuation will be met.

After months of failing to agree a new contract at the Riverside Stadium, Downing has looked like departing since Levy called Gibson to make a firm enquiry.

However, Middlesbrough maintain there has still not been a formal, written bid for the 23- year-old, who looks like figuring for his hometown club at Blackburn on Saturday.