Tbf, Downes is younger, and while he was great at Ipswich (watched him there plenty since it’s my dad’s team) it’s definitely a big step up (regardless of it from them or by way of a season at Swansea). The loan might do him a world of good and he could still prove a good squad player.

One big factor ultimately though is that Downes’ best attributes are his consistency in performances, ability to win the ball back and to retain possession, he’s not at all a creative player really. Ward-Prowse is all those good things but with a better range of passing and the x-factor of his set pieces. Maybe Downes can compete for the Alvarez style role post-loan (which I think would mean working a little extra on his defensive positioning), otherwise I have to admit he’ll never be a starter when Ward-Prowse is fit

The problem is we need him as a CB and a DM. Cloning tech can’t come soon enough