Liverpool Transfer Rumours: Is Stewart Downing Right Man for the Job at Anfield?

Liverpool's hunt for their new left wing is nearly over, after a month-and-a-half's worth of bidding, being rejected, negotiating and beginning the process anew. The club's courtship of Aston Villa left winger Stewart Downing is almost at an end, as the two clubs have reportedly agreed to a £20 million fee to send the England international to Anfield for next season, according to Mirror Football. 

The Reds' most recent bid had been rumoured to be in the £18.5 million range, but after a marathon negotiation session overnight, the two sides bumped the price up to the £20 million Villa had been hoping to get in return for their remaining star midfielder. 

Now, the only things standing between Liverpool and their newest midfield acquisition are a medical (scheduled to take place today), and negotiating personal terms for Downing's new deal (a four-year, £75,000-per-week deal is reportedly on the table already), and neither of those is seen as a real stumbling block to getting a deal done. 

However, the move does have the effect of further muddling an already crowded Liverpool midfield. After all, Downing is the third talent to join the Reds' midfield this summer, joining Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam.

On top of the newcomers, Steven Gerrard, Raul Meireles, Maxi Rodriguez, Alberto Aquilani and Jay Spearing still sit on the roster for Anfield, among others.

How does Dalglish figure to put this midfield together with so many talents on the roster, and what will Downing's role be? 

The 26-year-old wing is an excellent outside midfielder, capable of playing on the left or the right wing. He's a skilled ball handler whose runs are excellent, with strong pace and intelligence. 

Downing's passing is also sublime; the Englishman has superb pitch vision and has a reputation for delivering excellent crosses that are sure to have Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll drooling in the box all season long. 

But, the Villa standout isn't just a playmaker; he's also got a nose for the goal, evidenced by his eight goals last season at Villa Park. He takes his chances when they present themselves, and that's precisely what Dalglish and the Reds need on the left side. 

Frankly, because Downing plays a position that isn't all that deep in Liverpool's current midfield (left wing), the logjam in the middle shouldn't have much impact on him at all. He's virtually assured of regular playing time at the Kop, as Dalglish clearly sees him as a talent capable of boosting this team's offense immediately. 

Downing's defense leaves much to be desired, but Liverpool didn't get him to play stopper on the left side; they got him to make plays and create chances for Suarez and Carroll, and he's fully capable of doing just that. 

In fact, Downing figures to fit the Reds needs perfectly on the left side of the midfield, and should have no trouble keeping his starting spot during his tenure at Anfield. There are some questions about the price tag, but given the skills he brings to the table and the Reds' needs on the outside of their midfield, Downing is well worth the slightly overvalued transfer fee. 

At nearly 27, Downing is hitting his prime, meaning Liverpool have slotted him into their midfield at the perfect time to get the maximum impact from him. There is the threat of the inconsistency that dogged him early in his career returning, but if last season is any indication, that threat is minimal. 

Don't expect to see Downing become another high-priced mistake at the Kop, a la Paul Konchesky or Milan Jovanovic from the Roy Hodgson era. He's a skilled playmaking wing, capable of wreaking havoc from either side, and he figures to slot perfectly into Dalglish's schemes.

His balanced offensive game will make a major impact on the left side, and Downing figures to prove himself well worth the cost of getting him.