Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan is confident Adam Johnson will not leave this month.
Strachan confident winger won't leave in January
Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan is confident Adam Johnson will not leave this month.
The Boro boss accepts that Johnson, who has shunned numerous contract offers from the club, will be moving on in the summer.
Sunderland were confident of sealing a deal for the Easington-born winger and looked close to landing him.
Chelsea, Manchester City and Wolves are also believed to be keen to snap up the 22-year-old.
Despite Johnson being out-of-contract at the end of the season Boro look set to keep him until then, when the winger will more than likely choose to leave.
As Johnson is under 24, he cannot leave for free and if the club taking him cannot agree a fee with Boro - then it will go to tribunal, unless however he moves abroad, which would also include a move to Scotland.
And Strachan admits the recent ruling on Daniel Sturridge, which saw Chelsea ordered to pay a £3.5million down payment with an option for a further £3million, has given Boro confidence that they will receive a substantial fee for Johnson.
"I think Adam will stay at the club in this window," said Strachan.
"I think he'll still be here when the window shuts, one way or another. He likes playing for the club, he's a good kid, and he would like to try to get us back to the top level.
"It's not in our favour that his contract is up, but we can take solace from the fact that Manchester City got a half-decent deal for Sturridge. There's always that in the background."
