The winger will drop down a division
Stewart Downing is set to leave West Ham United in order to return to his hometown club Middlesbrough.
The 30-year old will drop down a division from the Premier League to the Championship to complete the move that will cost the Riversiders around £5 million.
According to the Daily Mail, the contract that Downing will sign at Boro will be £35,000-a-week rising to £70,000-a-week if the club are promoted to the top flight.
Promotion is the target
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has admitted that signing a playing like Downing can help boost his team’s chances of achieving promotion.
Boro narrowly missed out last campaign after losing to Norwich City in the play-off final.
Downing will return to Middlesbrough after being a product of the academy, making 234 appearances and scoring 22 goals in all competitions for the first team between 2001-2009.
The former England international won one of his two League Cup medals during his first spell at the club.
