Downing decision shows a new era is starting at Boro

GARRY Monk’s decision to axe Stewart Downing is a clear indication that Boro’s new boss intends to take the club in a completely new direction.

The fact that Boro have handed a free transfer to the 32-year-old experienced winger leaves no doubts that Monk wants everything done his way from the start.

Boro forked out £6m to bring Downing back to Teesside two years ago but will now let him leave on a free transfer

His probable departure will provide some leeway on the wage bill and provide an opening for Monk to start on his team rebuilding plans.

In many respects Downing must have thought he was back on Teesside to stay after coming home following major illustrious stints with Aston Villa, Liverpool and West Ham.

Unfortunately football does not stand on sentiment. It’s a fact of life that different managers hold different ideas about players – even former England internationals.

Chairman Steve Gibson has already indicated that Monk will be allowed to do things his way and this big decision over Downing may be just the start.

As revealed in the Sunday Sun last week, Monk has brought in his former Leeds United first team coach James Beattie, plus several other members of his backroom staff.

These include fellow coach Dave Adams, who was with Monk at Swansea but later took up a post as Academy Head of Coaching at Everton.

Goalkeeping coach Darryl Flahavan and two performance experts complete the new coaching team.

No doubt Monk will already have spent some time in meetings with his staff ahead of the return of the bulk of

the Boro players for pre- Gaston Ramirez is also expected to leave the Riverside this season season training this week. Downing will join the returning players while he sorts out his next move.

The Middlesbrough-born winger still has two years remaining on his contract and so has plenty of time to make a decision about his future.

He has already been linked with potential interest from several other clubs. One possibility is to cross the Atlantic and join one of the clubs in the MLS.

Downing’s former club Villa are said to be interested. Steve Bruce may well be tempted by the opportunity to take Stewart back to Villa Park.

No doubt Downing would be tempted by a return just a few miles up the road to Sunderland, where he spent a highly successful loan spell in the early days of his senior career.

However that one may have to stay on the back burner while the Black Cats await the appointment of a new manager.

Promoted Brighton are another of the clubs said to be keen, while the Scottish media are reporting that Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is very interested.

Monk could be shipping out two wingers this summer as interest in the flying Spaniard Adama Traore continues to increase.

Traore became something of a frustrating figure towards the end of last season because of his ability to leave defenders in his wake without managing to find a final product.

His distribution was distinctly lacking, while he is also not a natural defender and struggles when asked to track back on the right flank.

However opposition managers often placed two men to mark him, which suggests that there are a lot of Premier League coaches who will fancy their chances of being able to work on him and get Traore to realise his full potential.

Chelsea coach Antonio Conte is the latest to be looking at Traore, who is also said to be interesting West Ham and Newcastle United. .

Traore signed a four-year deal with Boro last summer after completing his move from Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee.

There’s no doubt that Boro would make a massive profit if they were to sell the winger this summer. Fees of around £8m have already been mentioned.

Gaston Ramirez is another wide player who is expected to leave the Riverside this summer, which suggests that Monk will be in the market for a winger before the start of the new campaign.

Monk’s only other options are the Danish international Viktor Fischer, who struggled in the Premier League, and Cristhian Stuani, who is arguably more effective as an orthodox striker.

The biggest question mark regarding Monk’s plans continues to hang over the head of England squad defender Ben Gibson.

Stoke City have officially announced that they are not involved in the chase for the 24-year-old, but Arsenal, West Ham, West Brom – and possibly Chelsea - are all keen.

In an ideal situation Monk does not want to lose the talented defender, who could prove to be a key player in a promotion push next season.