Everton join transfer hunt for Middlesbrough star

Everton boss David Moyes made a personal check on £6million-rated Adam Johnson as he prepares to launch a January bid for the Middlesbrough winger.

Johnson is out-of-contract next summer but will be able to sign a pre-contract deal with any club from January.

The 22-year-old capped a fine display against Preston on Saturday with a goal and Moyes will not have failed to have been impressed.

Liverpool, Sunderland and Aston Villa have all been linked to the Boro Academy graduate and that list is sure to expand as his contract dwindles further.

Gordon Strachan will be appointed manager of Boro this week and his first task will be to persuade the winger to snub the advances of the Premier League vultures.

Former Spurs boss Juande Ramos famously recommended Johnson to Real Madrid during his six month tenure at the Bernabeu, after being impressed with the player during his stint in English football.

But Johnson is refusing to get carried away by the speculation and insists he will concentrate on his football despite his ever-growing list of suitors.  

He said: “I have been linked with massive, massive clubs since I was 18. I thrive on it.

"When you get mentioned with these big, big clubs it boosts your confidence. Any player would like it.

"I tend to get on with my own game and whatever happens, happens.”