Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has claimed that he will not stop Stewart Downing from joining another Premier League club, amid rumours that Crystal Palace want him, according to The Mirror.

What's the latest?

Downing has struggled for regular game time at the Riverside this season, starting just 11 Premier League matches and coming off the bench in six of them.

The Mirror reports that Downing informed chairman Steve Gibson that he wants to move elsewhere in order to rack up some more minutes on the pitch.

However, Karanka has claimed that the former England international is still available for selection ahead of this weekend's match against Watford.

With more than two weeks left in the transfer window, there is still plenty of time for Downing to make a move, and Karanka has claimed that he will not oppose offloading him to a rival.

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The Spaniard is quoted by The Mirror as saying: “If Stewart wants to leave, and all the clubs agree, then would I be happy [to let him go]. Yes, of course.

“I don’t want to think about what scenario is better or worse - Crystal Palace or a Championship team - because at the moment, I don’t know anything on that score. But I take every single decision here. I have all responsibilities.

“I have always said that if a player wants to leave, and Middlesbrough and another club agree a transfer, then that is fine with me.”

Is Palace the right move for Downing?

Positives in the midfielder switching to Selhurst Park is that he remains in the Premier League and is very familiar with Palace's manager Sam Allardyce.

The 32-year-old played under the ex-England coach for two seasons at West Ham United after joining the club from Liverpool in August 2013.

If the Eagles are in fact keen to make a move for Downing, then it proves that Allardyce is an admirer, which boosts his chances of playing regular football for the remainder of the season.

The problem for the midfielder, though, is that Palace already have a number of players, including Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend, in his position.

Moreover, Jeffrey Schlupp, who Sky Sports claim is closing in on a move to Palace from Leicester City, can also play on the left wing, but he is likely to occupy the left-back spot.

Perhaps Allardyce will use Downing in a more central role, which he adopted during his time at West Ham.

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