Middlesbrough must make improved bid for Ryan Shotton after Birmingham reject offer for defender
Blues boss Harry Redknapp is interested in former Boro winger Stewart Downing
MIDDLESBROUGH must up their bid for Birmingham’s Ryan Shotton.
The defender, 28, will be allowed to leave for the right price — and Boro are likely to make an improved offer this week.
The Teessiders' summer spending spree shows no signs of slowing down after they broke the club record last week and added another new signing on Saturday.
Garry Monk signed Britt Assombalonga for a huge £15million from Nottingham Forest before adding West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph in a £5m deal.
Danish international Martin Braithwaite joined earlier this month for £9m from Toulouse.
Those moves followed Jonny Howson's arrival from Norwich and the purchase of Derby's Cyrus Christie, along with the loan capture of Swansea youngster Connor Roberts.
But despite already adding six additions to his newly-inherited Boro squad, Monk is still attempting to bolster his unit further ahead of this season's promotion charge.
Brum boss Harry Redknapp told the Birmingham Mail: "We had an offer from Middlesbrough it didn't meet our valuation.
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"Everybody we go for is big money so if Ryan wants to take the opportunity to go to Middlesbrough then we have got to get the right money."
Boro are likely to return to St Andrew's with an improved offer this week.
One man who looks like he could be going in the opposite direction is Stewart Downing.
The 33-year-old England international has been told by Riverside chiefs he can leave on a free this summer.
And Redknapp confirmed his interest in the winger.
He said: "I would like to bring him here but it's difficult. It just depends.
"He is one of a list of maybe five players I have got in mind, I think we need to strengthen the squad.
"Stewart's not unreasonable, he's a free agent, he's a fantastic signing.
"If we can get it sorted I would like to do something. It depends really but I would like to bring him in, he is a quality player.
"He would give us a lovely balance, a lovely left foot, he is a class player I think. I need to speak to the people at Middlesbrough and see what the situation is.
"Last year he was on Premier League wages at Middlesbrough so we will have to do a deal somewhere.
"It's difficult for us to pay Premier League wages - I would like to bring him in, he is a professional, a proper good player.
"He is one of probably five I would like to bring in."
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