Man City's Adam Johnson targeted by Liverpool, Spurs & Sunderland

By David OrnsteinBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments215

Adam Johnson

Liverpool, Tottenham and Sunderland have registered an interest in signing Manchester City winger Adam Johnson.

The 25-year-old made just 10 league starts last season and is likely to be sold before the transfer window shuts.

Sunderland are the only club to submit an offer so far, but Tottenham and Liverpool have made enquiries.

If the England international does leave Etihad Stadium, it is understood City will step up their interest in Swansea forward Scott Sinclair.

Johnson joined City from Middlesbrough in February 2010 and has scored 15 goals in 97 games.

But 43 of those appearances have come as a substitute and boss Roberto Mancini is open to the idea of letting him move on.

"Adam can have a future here but you should also understand when you are 23 or 24 years old, you want to play," the Italian said.

"If you are at a top team, you can't always do that, so if he wants to, he has to leave. If we can find a good solution, maybe it is better.

"But if that happens I will be so sorry because Adam is a good guy.

"He is a different player to the other strikers and wingers and maybe he could be important for us."

Johnson started England's victory over Italy last Wednesday but did not feature in City's 3-2 win against Southampton on Sunday.

Sunderland were understood to be the leading contenders to recruit Johnson before Tottenham and Liverpool made their interest known.

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215 comments

  • Hopefully Liverpool will get him, with Johnson & Johnson on the right Liverpool fans may have 'No more tears' - ROFL

  • I'd swap Downing for Johnson in a heartbeat, Downing has been a massive disappointment for Liverpool and despite him getting repeated chances, starting nearly every game and being played in his preferred position he's had a terrible time. Better for him if he leaves and definitely better for us if Johnson comes instead.

  • Lets hope he takes the pay cut and transfers for the sake of his career. Always said he could be a regular for England - he just needs games & his great potential has been stagnant at City. Sunderland would be a drop in standard & he would struggle at Spurs to uproot Lennon. Lpool is his best option. Upper table, competition for places but he should be first choice, with good club aspirations.

  • I'd be keen for him to join Liverpool. There's a space wide open for him as an inside forward which is exactly the sort of position he likes. Spur's have a quality winger on either side so it would be more difficult for him to get into that side.

    I think this is all waiting on Sinclair signing for City, then Johnson will be free to go. They need to keep that English quota up!

  • I'm glad that Everton are not linked like some had suggested. A lot of City fans dont rate Johnson and I dont think he has the necessary workrate to be a hit for Everton. Besides we have Pienaar anyway.

  • Much admired player at Arsenal, come to the Emirates pls!

  • liverpool will probably miss out on him,we need his scoring ability in our squad though! cant beleive we spent 20 million on downing last summer... got to go down has the worst transfer in last decade! just utter garbage he is!

  • @14 If you honestly think that Liverpool are relegation candidates then you another one of the idiots jumping on the hate Liverpool bandwagon, the team has the quality there and Johnson in and Downing out/cover would be an great move. Being a pool supporter, im under no illusion of the work that needs done and its just starting. But saying we are relegation candidates is just embarrassing to say.

  • Also have citeh run out of money?

    Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair? Seriously? The best that could be found? With unlimited resources they are the players citeh picked?

    Or have Citeh finally understood the financial fair play rules and dropped their shopping?

  • Just in case any prospective buyers of Johnson see this column, having watched him for the last several years in nearly every game and analyzed his performance on video, I'll just tell it like it is one last time.

    Adam Johnson is potentially the best British winger since G Best.

    But it requires a supportive manager who believes in him and will give him freedom. He didn't get that at City.

  • 161 @ I can't see man Utd mentioned on this tread title . There are BBC

    options available to chat about your runners up.

    Bore people on the two other treads available

  • It's a sad state of affairs when one of the top wingers in the EPL

    can't get a game .

    Adam is a class act , and one of the few English players i would pay

    to watch. It's a shame managers now look at wingers as a luxury ,

    instead of using them as a weapon.

    Why City want Sinclair instead of Adam baffles me , can only think

    that he's upset Mancini .

    Arsenals style would suit him.

  • I would like to see him in a red shirt but I thaught the same about downing and he hasnt lived up to his expectations

  • Sunderland would be a 'stepping stone' move for his career - which is unnecessary as he is already good enough for Liverpool and Spurs. He's more effective than Downing and Aaron Lennon - and I think he'd take Ashley Young out of the England starting 11 when he gets regular game time. He's also good enough for Man United and Arsenal. For £10m, he would be a great addition to any top side

  • 139.mrwood

    Your comment should read, "Should go to Liverpool, they're lacking quality in EVERY position."

  • Every club would be a good move and he'd certainly play a lot more games then at City. As a Liverpool fan, I hope he chooses us as he'd be a massive step up from Downing and Ithe club is building for a potentially exciting future, but I could understand his choice which ever club he chooses.

  • As a Sunderland fan, he would be an incredible signing for us...him and McClean either wing would be decent!! Either way, I'm glad to see he's leaving City and giving his career a chance! Lot of competition on the wing at Spurs though, would he get in ahead of David Bentley?

  • Adam Johnson deserves first team Premier League football with at least a team competing to get into the Europa league. With the wingers that Man City have in Silva, Milner, Nasri as well as using Tevez and Aguero on the wing, it will be increasingly hard for Johnson, who is good enough to play for England, to get regular games.

  • Can't believe Mancini wants to sell.
    Great player and totally underused but maybe he can't see beyong money grabbing mercenaries and recognise someone who actually may be a team player and just want first team football rather than be a millionaire bench warmer.

  • For me Liverpool HAVE to sign Johnson.

    I just think it would be the best place to kickstart his career, bags of potential and Liverpool really need a winger.

    Keep Downing because no one will buy him and just give Raheem Sterling more chances because IMO the kid is class.

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