Deal fears for winger

Sunderland may be priced out of a move for England winger Adam Johnson, as Manchester City are believed to want £15m for his services.

Black Cats boss Martin O'Neill has been targeting a move for the winger, who is finding first team football almost impossible to come by at Eastlands, and would possibly welcome a switch back to his native north east. Sunderland will not splash out £15million on one player and were hoping to get the winger on a loan for a season, but City have decided that they no longer want to lend players to their Premier League rivals and then subsidise their high wages. Johnson, who was born in Sunderland, signed a five-year deal with City seven months ago and is said to earn as much as £70,000-a-week wages, another major stumbling block to any permanent deal.