Liverpool Transfer News: Stewart Downing Closes in on Transfer from Aston Villa

Liverpool FC have moved one step closer to securing their third signing of the summer. The club's official website broke the news late on Wednesday night that they had agreed to terms with fellow Premier League side Aston Villa for the transfer of wide midfielder Stewart Downing.

In what has been one of several long-running transfer sagas over this preseason, Liverpool have reportedly had two previous offers for Downing rebuffed by Villa, but will now have the chance to snare their man after they agree on personal terms with him and he passes his medical.

With Liverpool currently out on tour in Asia, it is unlikely that Downing would link up with his new teammates—assuming the proposed transfer goes ahead—until their return, but Liverpool have issued a statement with this bid that they are prepared to pay big money to land their key targets for the summer.

It is expected that the offer may be around the £18 million mark, and speculation has been rife that Downing may have handed in a transfer request. Arsenal were also rumoured to be sniffing around the left-footed player, but Liverpool have stolen a march on the Gunners by agreeing on a deal with the Villains.

Downing, who can play all the way across midfield, has won 27 caps for England over a period of 6 years. He featured in all 38 league games last season for Aston Villa, scoring seven times.

Liverpool will now hope to wrap up the transfer of Downing over the coming days to add him to other new signings Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam, who made his Reds debut on Wednesday in a preseason friendly in China.