Sam Allardyce wants to bring in some creative quality to his side this month and is looking to reunite with one of his former players.
According to the Northern Echo, Crystal Palace are leading the race to sign Middlesbrough midfielder Stewart Downing on loan this month.
Allardyce handed Downing a career revival at West Ham when he signed him for £5m from Liverpool in the summer of 2013 and the 32-year-old enjoyed two great seasons in East London.
During the 2014/15 season, Allardyce employed Downing, a winger by trade, at the tip of a midfield diamond and it worked wonders for the former Aston Villa man whose form rapidly improved, so much so that he even battled his way back into the England squad.
Downing left the Hammers in 2015 to return to his boyhood club Middlesbrough in a £7m deal to help them escape the Championship, which they did. However, this term has seen Downing slip down the pecking order and Aitor Karanka is willing to sanction a loan move for him.
Palace are leading the race for Downing given their Premier League status and the chance to play under Allardyce once again, but Rafa Benitez and Newcastle are also interested in bringing him on loan until the end of the season.
