All the latest transfer gossip, rumours and lies

Boro allegedly reject third Downing bid from Spurs
Middlesbrough fans woke up this morning to reports that they had knocked back a £14.5 million bid for wantaway winger Stewart Downing. However, just a few hours later the Teesside club issued a statement denying that they had received a new offer from Spurs, who they have accused of turning the England international’s head.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Even though Downing wants to leave, Boro hold a position of power. He still has four-and-a-half years left on his contract and David Bentley’s latest woeful performance last night shows how desperately Spurs need a natural left winger.

Manchester City and Inter plan an unwanted Brazilian striker swap
Jo joined Manchester City in the summer for £18 million and has contributed just one league goal while Jose Mourinho last month suggested that Adriano needed to move elsewhere because he couldn’t be the “tutor” that the Brazilian striker needed. So what happens when there are two clubs with dispensible Brazilian strikers? They swap them, according to the Daily Mirror.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Adriano to Manchester City seems like a

Come on Hull, at least try to stay up

After giving our two cents on how the five top flight London clubs should spend their cash yesterday, today we look at how the Premier League newcomers should invest their modest budgets in the closed season…

West Brom

Top priority:
Some new defenders - West Brom have got guys capable of scoring goals but at the back they are very leaky. They let in 55 goals last season and the last time the Championship winners conceded that many was way back in 1961. Don’t do what Derby did and sign a load of rubbish defenders though.

Fitting the bill: Calum Davenport, Michael Dawson, Stephen Kelly

Stoke

Top priority:
A Plan B - So Stoke won promotion by being brutish and scoring from Rory Delap’s long throws but Watford showed that physicality alone isn’t enough to survive. Last season Stoke forward Mamady Sidibe started 35 games and scored just four goals - more firepower is a must.

Fitting the bill: Harry Kewell, Shane Long, Marlon Harewood

Hull

Top priority:
Some youth and depth - Hull are ridiculed for relying heavily on old-timers Dean Windass and Nick Barmby but there’s nothing wrong with this policy as long as they are supplemented by some talented youngsters to help share the workload. A bit more quality and depth in defence is also a must.

Fitting the bill: Colin Kazim Richards, Younes Kaboul, Ali Al Habsi, Linvoy Primus