Mancini admits interest in Johnson

MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini has admitted Adam Johnson is on his radar.

However, Mancini remains guarded about the prospect of recruiting the Middlesbrough midfielder before the transfer window closes on Monday.

Johnson is known to be keen on a move to Eastlands but it is understood the valuation remains a sticking point.

It is believed City have tabled a £5million bid for the player, who has scored 12 times this term and is out of contract at the end of the season.

Mancini said: “He is a good, young player but we have respect for him and the club. We will see (what happens).”

Mancini is tinkering with his squad and Benjani Mwaruwari could be set for a loan move to Sunderland to become the second striker to be released by the club in a matter of days should a deal be sealed.

Robinho clinched a loan move to Santos in his native Brazil yesterday following the Carling Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester United.

Even though Roque Santa Cruz remains absent with a calf injury, Mancini believes he has enough cover to cope.

On Benjani, Mancini said: “I spoke with him two days ago and he told me he had a possibility to go and play.

“We have a lot of strikers but he it is up to him to decide. If he wants to stay here I will be happy. He is a good player and a good man.”

City are looking to bounce back from the heartbreaking Carling Cup defeat by neighbours United when they entertain Portsmouth on Sunday.

That loss to their local rivals threw the spotlight back on chief executive Garry Cook.

After winning the first leg he boasted to supporters in a New York bar the tie was as good as over and City would go on to become the biggest and best club in the world.

Cook was certainly wrong on the first count but the club have condemned a report claiming the owners will give serious thought to his position at the end of the season.

A City spokesperson said: “This is an isolated and ill-informed piece of speculation, which is completely without foundation.”

Meanwhile, Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie has decided against walking out on the south coast strugglers but admits he and manager Avram Grant have plenty of cause to consider their futures.

The Fratton Park chief was left fuming after the club opened negotiations with Tottenham to sell defender Younes Kaboul and in-form goalkeeper Asmir Begovic without his knowledge.

Storrie said he was no longer involved in transfer dealings at Pompey but insists neither he nor Grant intend to walk away at this stage.

“We are both angry, frustrated and fed up, but neither of us are quitters,” Storrie said.

“I don’t intend to quit now I’ve slept on it and although I cannot speak for Avram, from what we have talked about this morning I don’t think he will quit either. And, let’s face it, we both have good reason to walk out!

“I am no longer involved in the finances, I am not involved in the transfer negotiations and Avram doesn’t know who’s being sold.”

It is understood that the club are waiting to receive payment from Tottenham for the Kaboul deal to cover this month’s staff wages.