Stewart Downing = £12 million

As the transfer pantomime continues to play out in the North West, with the audience hearing that oh so familiar punch line “oh no you don’t” being bellowed by Everton boss David Moyes, other Premier League clubs have also been assembling their squads ready for the new season.

With City taking up the role of token bad guy and looting the land far and wide, the remaining 19 clubs have had to search the far reaches of earth…even The Championship.

Aston Villa have this week signed an international winger for the exact same amount that Gareth Barry left Villa Park over a month ago for, but is £12 million really worth it for…Stewart Downing?

I thought it was only the millionaires club of Eastlands that were over spending, but it seems Martin O’Neill has employed the same accountant as the Abu Dhabi United group.

Fair enough, Downing is a threat to any defender on the ball and has in the past year impressed England manager Fabio Capello adequately for him to be included in his squad, but at the same time he has never really faced much competition for his place in a team.

Being an international in the Middlesbrough camp automatically gives you a guaranteed starting place. Downing’s standard left wing position is also an advantage to the 24 year old. Left sided midfielders are rare to find and even rarer to be found half decent.

England have been looking for the answer for years -which makes me still wish Ryan Giggs had been born with both English parents- and with Joe Cole out of the picture, due to injury, Downing faced limited competition.

But, £12 million for a player who isn’t known as a regular international and has only ever played for a second rate Middlesbrough team, the value of the Downing seems to be on the steep side.

Downing was always going to leave the Riverside, after Boro were relegated last season, and as expected a Premier League club would be his destination.

His current injury could keep him out of action until Christmas, meaning his new four year deal automatically comes three and a half straight away, in terms of football being played.

Either Mark Hughes has paid too low for a player of Barry’s quality or Villa’s expectations of Downing are very high.