Sunderland want Manchester City to drop their asking price for Adam Johnson.

Martin O’Neill is determined to lure the England international back to his hometown, and is prepared to pay big for his signature this summer.

However, he is reluctant to go as high as the £15million price tag which Roberto Mancini is reportedly demanding for the former Middlesbrough winger.

O’Neill is now keen to enter negotiations with the Premier League champions, and hopes to eventually land Johnson, 24, for closer to £9million.

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