Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has refused rumours that Stewart Downing will be leaving the club this summer. The England winger had been linked with a move to Liverpool.

Southgate told the Evening Gazette: "That can occur if we allow it to happen and I allow it to happen, but we have to accept there will be speculation about our players and, if they're the quality of Stewart and have had the sort of season he has, that's inevitable. Stewart knows exactly what I want to try and achieve here and, as far as we are concerned, he's not for sale.

"I fought long and hard to keep him and get him on a new contract during the course of last season and I think we saw an increased maturity in his performances towards the end."