Liverpool winger Stewart Downing has revealed that he nearly signed for Tottenham Hotspur two years ago.

The 27-year-old was playing for Middlesbrough at the time and eventually moved to Aston Villa for £12m before making the switch to Anfield over the summer.

"Tottenham made a couple of moves for me when I was at Boro," Downing told The Independent. "There were offers in the summer of 2008. Spurs came in again that following January. Then I got injured.

"[Middlesbrough chairman] Steve Gibson rang me and said he'd give me permission to go [to Villa]. I just felt it was the right time. Because I was injured, I think Spurs were maybe thinking they'd wait until the August but I couldn't take that risk. The big thing for me was Martin O'Neill pushed it really hard.

"I'm glad I spoke to O'Neill and I'm happy I went to Villa because it's a great football club and he was really good to me."

Liverpool are currently eighth in the Premier League table.