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Downes Given Time Off to Clear His Head Following Palace Interest
Thursday, 3rd Sep 2020 15:07

Manager Paul Lambert has given midfielder Flynn Downes a couple of days off “to clear his head” following Crystal Palace’s offers and the 21-year-old handing in a transfer request. Lambert says Downes won’t be involved in Saturday’s opening game of the season, the Carabao Cup first round tie against Bristol Rovers at Portman Road.

As previously reported, Town rebuffed offers from the Eagles of £1.2 million and then £1.6 million with the England U20 international subsequently making it known to the club that he would be interested in the move.

"Flynn has trained all week but it’s an unsettling time for him at the moment and he’s only a young lad," Lambert told the club site.

"It’s the first time in his career he is experiencing this situation and it can be difficult, especially at his age.

"I have spoken to him and told him to have a couple of days off. It will give him time to clear his head and then he’ll be back with us again next week.

"He’s a very talented player so I’m not surprised there has been interest in him but the bids we have had are nowhere near the valuation that the owner is looking for, and rightly so.

"I’d expect Flynn to be with us when the transfer window closes in October — unless someone comes up with an offer that the club has to consider and we are a long way off that at the moment.”

Town were previously reported to be holding out for £4 million for Downes, TWTD readers' Player of the Year in 2019/20, and an initial fee at around that level or towards £5 million plus substantial top-up clauses, such as appearance milestones, might more serious consideration from Town owner Marcus Evans. Claims that the Blues are after £8 million would appear unlikely in the current market.

Brentwood-born Downes, who we understand has recently taken on a new agent, is contracted to Town until the summer of 2022 with the club having an option for a further season.

TWTD first revealed that Palace were keen on Downes in early July with their sporting director Dougie Freedman having been at the Blues' game at Blackpool at the end of February as the Eagles continued an ongoing watching brief having first made contact with Town in January.

West Ham, who Downes supports and who he faced in a friendly at Portman Road last Tuesday, also made their interest known to the Blues in January, while Fulham are among the other clubs to have been keeping tabs on the Brentwood-born schemer. Reports of interest from Arsenal are understood to be wide of the mark.


Photo: Matchday Images



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Suffolkboy added 15:16 - Sep 3
I suppose PL knows best , but this ‘ young lad ‘ is Twenty One not 16 ! Lots of other ‘ young lads' are managing to exist in football ,and in PL Clubs : FD was old enough to decide to change agents , no doubt with a different future in mind .
Not a decision I find much sympathy with ; if we needed him to play then that's where he should have been – on the pitch !
Get over it , the pair of you .,
COYB
9

Carberry added 15:17 - Sep 3
Deal done?
2

JackSted added 15:17 - Sep 3
Palace don't want him cup tied then
12

Sm00411 added 15:30 - Sep 3
I actually think Lambert and Evans have handled this well. They're putting out a clear message that he's not leaving unless we get a ridiculous offer - and that's how it should be. Too often we seem to be on the bad end of the deal, hopefully not this time.
35

dirtydingusmagee added 15:36 - Sep 3
think this does show that the club is trying to hold on to him ,hopefully it will end well, we will soon know .
7

Bert added 15:37 - Sep 3
Agree, this has been handled well by Evans... for a change. I hope that Downes thinks this through. He is unlikely to play for Palace in the new season, they are a club that could be relegated whereas we are a club that could be promoted ( lots of hope there of course ). Yes, he would have increased his earnings many fold but would he be happy ? The club has invested heavily in Downes from a very young age so I would hope that he would give his employer at least another year. Things would then be much clearer for him and the club.
7

wewerefamous added 15:45 - Sep 3
Just in case my boss is reading this, I've been contacted about a new job and don't know what to do... can you let me have 2 days off fully paid to clear my head please?!?! I totally agree with you Suffolkboy, ridiculous!
7

Sixto6 added 15:46 - Sep 3
Totally agree, sounds like Town are handling this well.
Hopefully someone has told his agent to get back in his box !
5

Linkboy13 added 15:52 - Sep 3
You might think this has been handled by Evan's, but if we do get four million for Downes wheres the money going to go, same place as usual Evans pocket. Downes heart is obviously not in it so it's just a matter of time before we settle for a fee of about three million, no point in keeping an unhappy player.
3

BeattiesBackPocket added 15:57 - Sep 3
If they maintain this stance and only sell for 4-5 million then great but if we get offered around 2.5 million you watch Evans crumble like always. Hope I'm wrong and for the first time ever Evans gets a decent market price but if he takes 2.5 I don't wanna hear same old excuses from those Evans supporters about it then being a good deal cos some of you have already said 4 million 🤞
4

ITFCsince67 added 15:59 - Sep 3
Clear his head? My arse! He's sold and the buyer has said "do not play him"
6

BlueBlood90 added 16:01 - Sep 3
Flynn needs to get a grip and show some respect in my opinion. Ipswich Town are the ones who pay his wages and have looked after him for all these years. He can't go around demanding to leave when Crystal Palace made such a derisory offer. Get your head down and wait until a realistic offer is made.
17

1RWR added 16:09 - Sep 3
Flynn.....grow up, get your arse out on that pitch come Saturday and don't be such a big girls blouse.
Same goes for you Lambert, kick his arse on the pitch, that's what he's bloody paid to do and not go whimpering off to mummy for a couple of days.
His performance could be the dífference between a win or a loss, remember that Flynn/Lambert!
10

MonkeyAlan added 16:11 - Sep 3
He isn't a child. He should be able to handle what's going on, utter nonsense. If Evans does sell it will be a disclosed fee so we won't know how low he has sold him for anyway.
7

MickMillsTash added 16:25 - Sep 3
1.6 isn't enough
tell him what we would sell him for- ask him to play well for 3 months and see what happens in January

He might say I can't play well next to Cole Skuse and Kayden Jackson - and he might be right
2

Phil1969 added 16:29 - Sep 3
Doesn't this absolutely stink. Free from injury, not cup tied be gone by next weekend.
I've just seen a bigger job with Aviva and I'm currently working for Axa but have expressed an interest. I'm just emailing my boss to see if he will let me have some time out to clear my head. Think I know what the answer will be. Get in the real world ffs.
7

Nobbysnuts added 16:33 - Sep 3
Let's hope lambert heeds his own advice and does the same....🤥
1

PortmanTerrorist added 17:02 - Sep 3
Just what he needs. Time away from football to stew and over think things.
3

hampstead_blue added 17:04 - Sep 3
Time off?
What's he going to do? Keep him involved until CP come back with a better deal.

Let the lad progress in his career ffs.
2

Karlosfandangal added 17:08 - Sep 3
What all this about Evans will crumble.....Leicester bid £7 million for McGoldrick and it was turned down......and then we let him go for free....so for someone putting money in his pocket that makes bad business...... He has only put £100 million in to the club, so you are right he is always putting the money in his pocket.
3

Michael101 added 17:08 - Sep 3
Hope I'm wrong but is that the last we are of him?? We have no idea what's going on between Ipswich and palace or anybody ,think there has been I lot of phone calls emails going on as we all speculate.
1

Michael101 added 17:10 - Sep 3
See if him,dah.
1

therein61 added 17:12 - Sep 3
3 or 4 days ago Master Downes was just concentrating on his football( a smoke screen while his new Mr 10% worked a move for him) now he has been given time off to clear is head what for he knows what he wants and will do it(if that's the case young man just go we need commitment at this time in our club), i just hope we are sticking to our guns and not getting shafted yet again.
10

jas0999 added 17:28 - Sep 3
I'd be very surprised, but equally pleased if he ever plays for us again (unless a loan back). Everything points to a deal being close. Undisclosed fee.
2

happybeingblue added 17:31 - Sep 3
what a load of pony,how about repay the faith and loyalty itfc and fans have shown you since you were a boy and get us going again,if you storm every game motm and score goals by getting into the last third of the pitch! which you didnt last season btw then u will get your big £ move anyway,or is all about the £££.
why did he sign a contract then!get your head down rather than getting it turned by some spiv agent.
6


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