Southgate eager to keep Johnson

Tue, 15 Sep 16:15:28 2009

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has reiterated his determination to hang on to England Under-21 international winger Adam Johnson.

The 22-year-old midfielder has played a key role in Boro's encouraging start to life in the Coca-Cola Championship. However, Johnson is out of contract at the end of the season and talks over a new deal in the last six months have failed as yet to reach a successful conclusion.

"I want him to be here, it's as simple as that, and the football club want him to be here," said Southgate.

"We have been in talks for a long period of time. Adam wanted the opportunity to play, as much as anything, and all the time Stewart was here he felt he wasn't getting that opportunity to play.

"That path is clear for him now, so it allows us to sit down and talk a bit more logically about everything and those discussions are ongoing with Adam and his family."

 

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  1. After last nights performance, it simply underlines all­ of our feelings - keep Johnson at all costs.

    From mortgageandmoneycentre, on Wed 16 Sep 9:14AM

  2. If we have any hope of getting back to the big time,­ Johnson has to stay. I agree with all the comments, its­ about time the cheque book came out and reinvested some­ of the small fortune Boro have saved on the wage bill.­ He's easily our best player now and we should be­ paying whatever it takes to place him on a long term­ contract.

    From mortgageandmoneycentre, on Tue 15 Sep 7:32PM

  3. If Southgate,Gibson &co want Adam Johnson to stay­ then give him the the just rewards that he deserves. He­ has waited a longtime under the shadow of Downing to­ the benefit of the Boro, and he is one of the players­ of the future when we return to the top flight. DONT­ wait until the last few weeks of his contract, and risk­ losing him. ACT NOW.
    Sapper Joe

    From JOSEPH, on Tue 15 Sep 9:40AM

  4. He was awesome when out on loan to the mighty Horns­ & i firmly believe that when Southgate took him­ back early it ended our promotion push & ultimately­ the career of Aidy Boothroyd at the club...

    From Dangerous, on Tue 15 Sep 5:45AM

  5. Right on the nail CJ. To keep him Southgate and the­ club have got to make him feel valued. In his eyes he­ was overlooked and taken for granted whilst Downing was­ in the squad, so there's quite a bit of bridge­ building to do. The answer to me is relatively simple,­ players talk amongst themselves so there is every­ chance he'll know what wage Downing was on at Boro­ and what he is on at Villa. They are going to have to­ match the former at least and probably even raise it to­ somewhere in between, building in a clause that if­ after he has signed a club comes in for him with a bid­ of say £10m he can go if he wants to.

    From kht20, on Mon 14 Sep 7:54PM

  6. BIG BIG mistake if we let this lad go. Many supporters,­ myself included have rated him above Downing for years.­ Now Downing has gone and he has his chance to play­ every week, we are starting to glimpse his potential.

    From Boro CJ, on Mon 14 Sep 4:03PM
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