West Ham United winger Stewart Downing is returning to his hometown club Middlesbrough according to The Times.

The Teesside club could sign the midfielder for £5 million after fighting off competition from fellow north east club Sunderland, who have also shown interest in the England cap.

Middlesbrough, who missed out on a place in the Premier League by losing 2-0 to Norwich City in the Championship Play-Off Final in May, are keen to strengthen and secure promotion to the top flight this time around.

Downing, 30, spent eight years at Boro before moving to Aston Villa in 2009 for £10 million.

The wide midfielder won the Player of the Season award on two occasions at the Riverside Stadium and was part of the side that won the League Cup in 2004 - the club's first silverware. 

And the former Liverpool man has made 35 appearances for England and was called up once more in November for the games against Slovenia and Scotland. Downing grabbed six goals last season for the Hammers in his most prolific season since leaving Boro.