OPINION
Newcastle should offer Stewart Downing an instant return to the Premier League after he was told by Garry Monk he can leave Middlesbrough for nothing this summer.
The Sun claim new Boro boss Monk has told the 32-year-old that he is free to leave the Riverside for a second time after plummeting down the attacking midfield pecking order towards the end of last season.
Ladbrokes claim Newcastle are joint third to sign the former England international at 8/1, behind Premier League new boys Brighton who are at 2/1 while former side Aston Villa are second favourites at 4/1.
The attacking midfielder has two years remaining on his current deal on Teesside but Monk is keen to offload the former Liverpool star in order to make room for new signings and remove him from the wage bill.
This Is Futbol believes the former Leeds boss has missed a trick by telling Downing he can leave and is confident that he still has something to offer in the Premier League next season with Newcastle.