MIDDLESBROUGH officials will hold further talks with unsettled winger Stewart Downing this week after reiterating their desire to keep him at the Riverside.

The Teessiders turned down Tottenham's £7m bid for the England international last week, but Downing's agent, Ian Elliott, revealed his client's disappointment at the club's initial offer of an improved deal.

Downing is still contracted to Boro until 2008 but both parties are keen to negotiate a new agreement after the midfielder's meteoric rise to full international status.

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb will hold further discussions with both Elliott and Downing this week and, despite last week's problems, remains confident of brokering a new deal.

"We don't conduct our contract negotiations in public," said Lamb, who will learn the result of Emanuel Pogatetz' appeal against his six-month ban later today.

"We will be sitting down again with Stewart's agent in the near future to discuss the situation.

"We're ambitious and Stewart is very much part of our future plans. I'm sure he will be a fixture here for many years to come.

"We will be speaking with Stewart's representatives again this week so we can take things forward.

"There is a willingness to reach agreement on the part of both Stewart and the football club. The key is to find the right way of moving forward and I am confident that will happen in the next few days."

Boro boss Steve McClaren has been actively involved in the club's initial discussions and is equally determined to ensure Downing does not leave his native Teesside.

"You don't want to lose your best players," he said. "That's one of the main things we've always said - to go forward you need to keep hold of your best players.

"Stewart has come through the ranks, had a good season last season, got into the England squad, and there's no way we want to let him go."

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