Johnson committed to Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson has committed his future to Gordon Strachan's side, despite reported interested from several Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton and Sunderland.
The 22-year-old England U21 international has almost single-handedly kept Boro's promotion hopes alive this season, with his 12 goals and string of scintillating displays guiding the Teesiders to 10th place in the Championship - five points adrift of the play-offs.
Johnson was at his imperious best once again on Tuesday, scoring twice and assisting another goal in a 4-1 win at Doncaster Rovers.
As a result, speculation has intensified that Johnson will be on his way before the winter transfer window slams shut on Monday evening.
Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton and Sunderland are all thought to be lining up £5 million offers for the wing-wizard, who is approaching a century of league appearances for Middlesbrough.
However, Johnson has pledged his allegiance to the Riverside Stadium outfit - stating that he is solely focussed on ensuring the club bounce straight back into the top-flight.
“I’m just getting on with the football side of things. That’s all I can do," he said.
“This has been the best season I have had and it has felt great from a personal point of view. I just have to get on with the football and whatever happens will happen.
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“If anything, all the attention gives you confidence. It’s nice to be talked about and go and show why people are talking about me.
“It’s been a good season for me and there’s nothing more I would like to see than the team going straight back up. It looks like we have lost a bit of ground but we can make it up."
And Strachan has insisted that he has no plans to sell his prize asset before the end of the season after confirming that he has received offers for the player.
"We have had verbal offers, we have had one official offer and I would imagine after looking at those that Adam will be here for the last 19 games of the season," he said.
"That's great for us because when he is on form, we are a better team, that's for sure.
"Adam is a terrific, terrific professional and a terrific young man."
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has repeatedly stated that he plans to make no new signings this month after capturing Johnson's former team-mate Ross Turnbull last summer.
The livewire winger is thought to have turned down an approach from Premier League strugglers Wolves in search of bigger and better things.
Cash-rich Manchester City, ambitious Sunderland and David Moyes' improving Toffees are likely to prove a more attractive prospect for the Middlesbrough youth team product.
Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.
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