Just yesterday Manchester United signed former Wigan midfielder Antonio Valencia for a staggering £16 million. With Cristiano Ronaldo choosing to enjoy sunnier shores, the defending Premier League champions were keen to fill the gap left on the Old Trafford flanks. They chose to go with the man from Ecuador.

My question to Sir Alex Ferguson and the rest of the Premier League is: why doesn’t anyone want Stewart Downing!? This is a guy that was being chased after by some of England’s top clubs just years ago, and he has often been…

Much to even my own surprise, since the turn of the new year I’ve been tipping Middlesbrough for relegation. The rest of the footballing world has, too. Football is a funny old game, isn’t it? A year ago I would’ve been singing the praises of Middlesbrough for holding the big clubs to draws or even defeats. Now, Middlesbrough find themselves in a sticky situation - and they don’t appear to care.

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson yesterday announced that Gareth Southgate will not be facing the sack this season as it would “solve…

It doesn’t look like Harry Redknapp will be adding to his squad - at least when it comes to Stewart Downing. Tottenham have allegedly made three offers to Middlesbrough for the 24 year-old winger. They have all been rejected, the most recent of which received a verbal outburst by Boro’s chief executive, Keith Lamb.

Lamb just wanted to “reiterate that no senior players will be leaving this football club during January. That is the end of the matter. Any ongoing media speculation is therefore meaningless, and we will not continue to respond…

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate today reiterated his desire to keep winger Stewart Downing at the Riverside. Despite not having the best season ever, Southgate believes it is not in the club’s or the player’s best interest to move just yet. Downing has clearly been affected by transfer speculation in recent weeks, and Boro fans are hoping the issue can be resolved as soon as possible.

“Spurs have expressed an interest in Stewart but we’re not interested in selling him,” Southgate said. “We think we need to keep hold of our best players.

“If…

Keith Lamb, Middlesbrough’s chief executive, has revealed Middlesbrough’s plan to look towards their youth academy instead of buying big. Last January Middlesbrough splashed the cash on record signing Afonso Alves, as they paid £12 million for the striker. Lamb now says that Boro will be relying on their famed youth academy to provide them with new players from now on.

“Now it’s about what is best for us at this time.

“Policy is very important to us and that’s why we have sat down with Gareth Southgate and formulated a plan to take…

With one month of Premiership action out of the way, Premiership Talk reviews all twenty teams and grades them based on their early season performances.

Manchester United

The defending Premiership champions are perennial slow starters, and this year is no different. Even with their slow start, though, United are in a good position - still without a loss this year. Albeit, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have only played two games, their last match in August was postponed due to the Super Cup. A home draw against Newcastle opened the season, and an unconvincing…