Boro boss eyes Johnson deal

29 July 2009 12:39
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate remains hopeful that he can persuade Adam Johnson to sign a new deal with the club. Johnson, who has attracted interest from a host of clubs following Boro's relegation last season, has just a year left on his current deal at The Riverside. The winger has thus far spurned Boro's advances to try and tie him down to a new deal, with the Championship outfit keen to avoid the scenario which saw Ross Turnbull walk out on the club earlier this summer to join Chelsea. "We've been negotiating with Adam for ten months and we're trying to get him tied up," said Southgate. "I hope we're able to offer him a different scenario to the one he turned down last year. "In fairness to Adam and his parents, the argument has never been about money, it has been about getting an opportunity. "It was almost a case of him saying, 'Whatever you offer, that's not the point, it's about me knowing I'm going to play'. Hopefully, we can make some progress on that. "Ever since I've known Adam as a manager, I've always made a point of making sure he knows what I think of him. I'm able to back that up now by giving him a run in the team." With Stewart Downing sold earlier in the summer, the path is now clear for Johnson to start from the off next season. "In the past, Adam has had the pressure of having to come into games feeling that whatever he did, he was probably going to be out of the side when Stewart was available," said the Boro boss. "Now, he's got the chance to be the player and the man. "That's a great thing for any youngster. "We know he's got a special talent. He's still growing and developing physically, and maybe that was a bit of an issue in terms of the Premier League. "But I think he could be something very special in this league for us, and getting a year of football under his belt is the most important thing. "At this stage of his career, Adam has to play. Whatever happens in the rest of his career, he has to play this year in order to develop."

Source: SKY_Sports