MIDDLESBROUGH will do everything they can to persuade West Ham United to part with Stewart Downing, with former team-mate Julio Arca convinced a return to Teesside will prevent Sunderland from landing their man.

The Black Cats have been in discussions with the Hammers aimed at luring Downing to Wearside but have so far failed to reach an agreement on a fee for the £5m-rated player, who also reputedly earns £80,000-a-week at Upton Park.

But Slaven Bilic, the newly appointed West Ham boss, paid more than £10m for Marseille playmaker Dimitri Payet yesterday and that has increased the chances of Downing leaving in the next few weeks. A North-East move is the likeliest scenario.

But while Sunderland would appear to have the greater spending power because of Premier League status, Boro chairman Steve Gibson is ready to do what he can to give Boro’s Championship promotion surge a massive lift after enduring play-off final disappointment last month.

And, as exclusively revealed in The Northern Echo on Monday, Gibson is working on a package in the hope of persuading West Ham to agree to a deal which would see Middlesbrough-born Downing return to the club he left following relegation in 2009.

Arca, played for both clubs before injury forced retirement two years ago, thinks Middlesbrough have the upperhand because of his ties and relationship with Gibson and the town.

“Stewy’s roots are more in Middlesbrough than in Sunderland,” said Arca, who was with Downing at the Riverside for three years after Gareth Southgate signed him in 2006. “Of course there is the Premier League, but I believe his heart will be closer to Middlesbrough.

“It would be fantastic for him to go back to the city and the club where it all started. I am sure Steve Gibson would do everything for him too; the manager Aitor Karanka as well.

“They will both know what Stewart Downing could bring to the team and they are missing someone like him. With him on the left-wing, supplying the strikers, it would be excellent for Middlesbrough in the Championship if that could happen.”

If West Ham accepted offers from both Wear and Tees then it would be easy for many to accuse Downing of a lack of ambition if he decided to head for the Championship rather than opt for a stay in the top-flight after an impressive season with West Ham, which earned an England recall.

But Arca disagrees. The Argentine, speaking during a break in filming for Made in Tyne & Wear’s Football Still Matters programme, believes helping Middlesbrough to promotion could actually be the perfect way for him to cap a memorable career.

“Stewy has done his bit in the Premier League financially, so he will be comfortable and will not need another big move now,” said Arca. “He has been in the international team, he has been at a World Cup ... I think he has done everything a footballer would dream to do really.

“He can do what he wants to do now. It’s not about finishing his career; it’s coming back to his childhood team at a good age and hopefully to get promotion with them. That would be fantastic for the club and for the team.”

Arca, still only 34, is currently working his way through his coaching badges and is in the North-East working with Gary Bennett, Kieron Brady and Dean Gordon with the Back 2 Basics coaching academy, so he clearly has a foot still in both the Sunderland and Middlesbrough camps.

And he would love to see Karanka help take Middlesbrough back to the top tier of English football. Arca said: “It was disappointing to see them after the season they had to lose at Wembley.

“They slowed down and they just didn’t turn up in the final. But they played such good football throughout the season and they have a good manager so they will come good next season. I hope they go up because it would be nice to have three North-East teams in the Premier League again.”

l Julio Arca spoke during filming for Made in Tyne & Wear’s (Sky 117) Football Still Matters show which is broadcast on a Wednesday night at 9.30pm for the next five weeks. Arca’s goal against Middlesbrough in 2005 at the Riverside will provide a regular slot on the show, with amateur footballers from across the region challenged to replicate his brilliant dead ball kick for the cameras.