Sunderland are joined by duo

Sunderland face a battle with rivals Liverpool and Spurs for the services of Manchester City star Adam Johnson.

The England wide man looks to have a limited future with the Champions, although Roberto Mancini has tried to persuade him to stay, and a move back to his native north east had looked to be on the cards. Black Cats boss Martin O'Neill is ready to break the club's existing wage structure in order to secure the services of the Easington-born winger but both Liverpool and Spurs are also interested in the 25-year-old who is thought to be earning around £80,000 a week at the Etihad Stadium. Mancini has not completely given up hope of retaining Johnson, but understands the Wearsider's desire to play regular football. "Adam can have a future here but you should also understand when you are 23 or 24 years old, you want to play," said Mancini. "If you are at a top team, you can't always do that, so I agree, if he wants to, he has to leave. But if that happens I will be so sorry because Adam is a good guy."