Stewart Downing's agent has hit back in a war of words with Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson.

The two men have clashed verbally in recent days over the 23-year-old England midfielder's stalled contract negotiations.

Agent Ian Elliott had claimed the offer his client rejected recently did not reflect his club's apparent £12 million valuation, and suggested he would leave for free after seeing out the remaining two-and-a-half years of his current deal.

Gibson responded today by claiming Elliott's actions may not be in the player's best interests.

"He (Elliott) has issued a statement which, when you study it, is an absolute contradiction. One one hand, it says Stewart wants to leave and then on the other, it says that Stewart will play out the remaining two-and-a-half years of his contract. Well, what is it to be?

"Stewart will have seven or eight years left at this level and the fact that he appears to have put his career in the hands of Ian Elliott is a source of concern for me because I don't think that's in Stewart's best interests."

However, the chairman's comments have prompted an angry riposte from the agent, who said this evening: "I am very saddened by the comments made by Steve Gibson in today's papers.

"I strongly deny that I am not acting in the best interests of my client," Elliott added. "Stewart Downing has been a client of mine for almost 10 years. I would consider him and his family close friends as well as clients.

"I would never act in anything other than his best interests.

"I consider the remarks by Mr Gibson to be defamatory and the matter is now in the hands of my legal advisors.

"I will be making no further comment on this subject."