Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is hoping to beat a host of Premier League rivals to the signature of Middlesbrough's highly-rated winger Adam Johnson in the January transfer window.

Johnson, 22, is out of contract at the Riverside Stadium the end of the season and has so far rejected Boro's offers of a new lucrative contract.

The Hordon-born ace has arguably been the finest player of the Championship season so far, netting eight goals in 14 appearances form a wide position, which has attracted the attention of the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool.

But Black Cats chief Bruce is hoping to trump them all with a reported £3million bid for the England Under-21 ace in the New Year after watching him score a double in Boro's recent 2-0 win over Derby County.

Bruce is keen to bolster his squad at the Stadium of Light as he looks to build on an encouraging start for his troops this season which has seen them record a famous win over Liverpool and earn a share of the spoils at Manchester United.