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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

  • Comment posted by LFC_MJB, at 15:25 21 Aug 2012

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

  • Comment posted by conradk, at 15:23 21 Aug 2012

    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.

  • Comment posted by User0523269825, at 15:23 21 Aug 2012

    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.

  • Comment posted by McGaz, at 15:54 21 Aug 2012

    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!

  • Comment posted by User0265707255, at 15:04 21 Aug 2012

    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.

  • Comment posted by User0250077284, at 15:59 21 Aug 2012

    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!

  • Comment posted by cliveeta, at 17:42 21 Aug 2012

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

  • Comment posted by Exabyte, at 15:32 21 Aug 2012

    @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.

  • Comment posted by U15059924, at 16:55 21 Aug 2012

    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?

  • Comment posted by Alex D, at 15:15 21 Aug 2012

    Great player, shame he never really got the chance at City. Would do well at any of those clubs, although Spurs already have some great wide players in Bale and Lennon.

    Would love to see him at LFC but Sunderland must be tempting - back in the North East where he used to play and under the wing of Martin O'Neill who would surely get the best out of him.

  • Comment posted by User0479126285, at 20:15 21 Aug 2012

    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.

  • Comment posted by D1679301167559, at 16:34 21 Aug 2012

    one the most gifted players in the PL; should have more freedom to come in from the wing; would fit well into the Tottenham team

  • Comment posted by User0479126285, at 21:18 21 Aug 2012

    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

  • Comment posted by Baylonious, at 16:23 21 Aug 2012

    If he had the word DEFENSE tattooed on his forehed then 1) it would be splet incorrecly and b) he would only be able to read it in a mirror. So he would still be unfamiliar with it (unless someone took a photo of his forehed and he looked at it regularly).

  • Comment posted by yorkshirespurs, at 15:26 21 Aug 2012

    I rate johnson very much and would love him at Spurs but the news that we are still hunting Adebayor sickens me. There are cheaper players in Europe who are better

  • Comment posted by shadow warrior, at 16:07 21 Aug 2012

    Tottenham have Lennon, and he looks in form and AJ would be behind him, Sunderland he would be the star man yes but they are a midtable team. Liverpool are crying out for a player like him and i know the fans want him. Man City should sell him to Liverpool so they can take more points of United. Liverpool are still the bigger club and he needs a big club so Liverpool is the right choice for him

  • Comment posted by The JDogg, at 19:17 21 Aug 2012

    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

  • Comment posted by Morphius Bane, at 15:32 21 Aug 2012

    40.snoopy

    haha mate, you crack me up. Dream on... maybe it'll be 1999 again hahahahaha

  • Comment posted by User0019618397, at 15:12 21 Aug 2012

    what a wasted talent, could easily do a good job at spurs, liverpool or sunderland.

  • Comment posted by Ben , at 15:25 21 Aug 2012

    @ 23

    Firstly, I don't understand what is 'desperate' about being linked with those four players. All of them would add something to Liverpool.

    Secondly, there are countless others who Liverpool are linked with purely to fill gaps in tabloid pages. Anyone available is immediately linked with Liverpool.