From today's Journal. Sounds like serious interest in Johnson, and also seems Ji will play a bigger role next season so MON has obviously seen enough about him to think he is worth persevering with. http://www.journallive.co.uk/safc/safc-news/2012/05/29/sunderland-enquire-about-adam-johnson-61634-31065292/
SUNDERLAND have asked Manchester City about Adam Johnson’s availability this summer – as Martin O’Neill offers Ji Dong-won assurances on his future. The Black Cats are set to lose Kieran Richardson in the close season and want a left-sided winger to compliment breakout star James McClean. O’Neill would love that man to be Johnson, and a tentative enquiry has been lodged with a high-ranking City official about whether the England man might be made available this summer. Roberto Mancini is yet to decide whether to keep Johnson but knows the player is unhappy with the amount of games he played last season and may have his hand forced by the Sunderland-born former Middlesbrough man. Johnson is understood to be open to the possibility of moving to the Black Cats – whether on loan or on a permanent basis. But it would be up to Sunderland to come up with a financial package that would make the deal happen. Johnson’s weekly wage is well in excess of Sunderland’s top earner, which may pose a problem with the club undertaking efforts to reduce their overall wage bill. And as O’Neill continues to try and build a squad capable of improving on this inconsistent season, he has offered Ji hope for the future. The South Korea striker find life tough in his first campaign in the Premier League and despite scoring a memorable winner against Manchester City, it proved to be something of a baptism of fire for him after signing from the Chunnam Dragons last summer. That had led to speculation that he could be allowed to leave but Black Cats boss O’Neill is predicting a “major season” for the 20-year-old. “I’m sure Ji would have liked more playing time this season. It is a difficult adjustment to make,” he admitted. “He has been away from home which is not easy but he is making strong inroads and looks as if he is getting stronger. “I think that if things work out well, next season will be a major season for him. If he starts the season well then there’s no reason why he can’t make that breakthrough. “He’s got the natural talent to do so.” O’Neill wants at least one striker to compliment his current forward line and as revealed by The Journal, Wolves striker Stephen Fletcher is one option. But the Black Cats have had no contact from other clubs about their striker Stephane Sessegnon, despite a raft of reports that last week claimed City were interested in the Benin international. Meanwhile, O’Neill says he is looking forward to the club’s trip to South Korea in July. “I’ve taken a team to the Peace Cup before and it is a great honour for us to be invited to participate in such a prestigious tournament in what is obviously a fabulous stadium,” the former Aston Villa boss told the club’s official website. “I’ve never taken a team to play in the Far East. “I went to Japan to see the World Cup final in 2002 but I’ve never been to South Korea, so I’m really looking forward to it. “I don’t know much about the K-League so for me the trip to South Korea will be a fact-finding opportunity. “South Korea has gained great prominence in recent years with the national team doing so splendidly in the World Cup in recent times.”
Adam Johnson is a dream signing, he is that good! Wonder if McClean would continue on the left and move Johnson to the right as he likes to cut in and get his shots off. Both of these, you would think, are to good to be warming the bench at Sunderland.
Would love it if it's true. McLean on the left, AJ on the right (he has even said right wing is his fave). Just where to fit larsson....?
I would look at that as quite a weak midfield, no height, no pace and not sure if Larsson has got the engine for it.
Would be class to have McClean, Sess and Johnson all playing just behind someone like Fletcher. If we did manage to get Johnson I hope we still try and get Hoilett, you can never have enough options in attack and I think MoN wants someone in to challenge McClean to get even more out of the lad.
Well I'm not bothered about great height in midfield, as we have some tall defenders, and I think if we looked at the stats that Larsson has a great 'engine'. End of the season he tailed off it is true (but who didn't) but he had a virus and this saps your strength, and had a hernia so that would have restricted his movement. I think he and Catts would work well in the middle, winning the ball, breaking up play and passing it to our pacy wingers (especially if we got Johnson) or to Sess, and with a decent target man as well we would be a real threat. Larsson's dead ball ability is worth a few points a season too. Jack can be played at left back or in addition to Larsson and Cattermole (dropping one of the wingers or Sess or the new CF) depending on the opponents. I think we are coming up with a viable plan lads! Do you think MON will be reading?
--------------------Fletcher---------------------- --McLean------------------------------------AJ-- ----------------------Sess----------------------- ------------Colback--------Catts----------------- -------------------------------------------------- ---New LB-------Brown----O'Shea-------Bardo? -----------------Mignolet------------------------ I would think that would be ok? More of a staggered midfield. Colback and Catts to help enforce the midfield, Sess to pull the strings, and McLean and AJ to go wide, get past defenders and put the balls in, with Sess moving into the box aswell. Or change out Colback with Larrson, or some other midfielder if we need it.
I think that's the formation we will go with if we can hang onto Sess. Think we need a center back with a touch of pace then Oshea and Brown can fight for the other spot. New 'proper' left back too, I think Richardsons development has stalled due to him being a jack of all trades and we don't want that to happen to our actual jack.
With all the respect in the world, and I really mean that, I would think AJ will have better options than Sunderland. Liverpool screams out as his next destination, they are losing Kuyt and Joe Cole is a flop for them, as is Maxi, they have very little in the wide roles supplying what many widely regard as an unplayable CF who thrives on deliveries from the wings. Johnson is also far superior to Kranjcar and Lennon so could be an option for Spurs, or even Arsenal considering how frail and pathetic Walcott is, in fact he'd probably improve just about every team outside of Manchester. I do believe there has to be a few English players registered for PL clubs though so it could be that Mancini keeps hold of him, he's probably one of the lower earners over there.
AJ is from the north east, and there are many rumors and mates-uncles-dogs-sisters-owners-milk-man who claim to know him or his family, and say he is a SAFC fan, or a NUFC fan, and his family are SAFC fans. One thing is for certain, he is from Sunderland, so moving here might be more appealing than Liverpool. Liverpool are a team on the decline. They don't even have a manager yet, so any transfers in and out there wont be happening any time soon. As for sitting on the bench at Citeh as a Home Grown player, he lost out on going to the euros because of this. I don't think for a second he will be happy to sit there, and missing out on a chance to show his talent on the bigger stage. Brazil 2014 is 2 years away, and he will want to be in contention for that. Playing week-in week-out is the only way he can. A manager like MoN will defo be a big draw to do this.
haggis I get what you're saying about his roots but if we're honest, really that means very little. I'm not privy to the hear-say comments from the people who claim to know him so if that's the case then maybe he will end up back up there, but from where I'm sat, playing in the North East won't do him any favours on the international front either. Martin O'Neill isn't as big a draw as challenging for trophies either, Milner and Barry will testify to that.
