Manchester City make £6m Sinclair offer as Johnson closes in on Sunderland switch

By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Manchester City have tabled a £6 million bid for Scott Sinclair after agreeing in principle to sell Adam Johnson to Sunderland, Goal.com has learned.

Brian Marwood, City’s director of football administration, has formalised the club’s pursuit of Sinclair during recent talks with Swans chairman Huw Jenkins, with the Welsh side’s first-team coach, Alan Curtis, admitting on Tuesday that the transfer is “a matter of time”.

Swansea have indicated that they will accept the Premier League champions’ initial payment of £6m for Sinclair and discussions are now centring on the composition of add-ons, which could be worth a further £2m.

City expect to clinch the signing of Sinclair this week as a direct replacement for Johnson, who is on the brink of joining Sunderland in an £11m deal.    

Goal.com revealed at the start of the month that Roberto Mancini was ready to sanction the England international’s departure and then disclosed last Saturday that the 25-year-old was set to complete a move back to the North East.

Johnson will be replaced at Etihad Stadium by Sinclair, who was left out of the Swansea starting XI for Saturday’s 5-0 win at QPR, after telling the Welsh club that he did not want to extend a contract that is due to expire next summer, though he later came on to score their fifth.

The Welsh club are keen for the forward’s future to be resolved quickly as they turn their attention to strengthening their squad.

Jenkins revealed on Monday that the Swans’ £5m offer for Ki Sung-Yeung has been accepted by Celtic, although they have yet to agree personal terms with the central midfielder, who is regarded as direct replacement for Joe Allen, now of Liverpool.

Manager Michael Laudrup is also keen to use his knowledge of La Liga to bring Valencia winger Pablo Hernandez to the Liberty Stadium.

Fulham and Aston Villa had been leading the clubs chasing Sinclair but the England Under-21 international was swung by the interest from the Premier League holders.

It is believed that he has already agreed personal terms with City and that a deal to take him to Etihad Stadium will swiftly be completed.

The £1.5m signing from Chelsea scored seven league goals for the Welsh club last season and was a key figure in their successful debut Premier League campaign.

Johnson only signed a contract extension with City last November, tying him to the club until 2015, but he has fallen out of favour with Mancini.

The former Middlesbrough man has also attracted interest from Liverpool and Tottenham this summer, but Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill is confident that he will soon be signing for the Black Cats.

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