MIDDLESBROUGH are prepared to block Adam Johnson’s hopes of securing a transfer away from Teesside as they refuse to be considered a soft touch in the transfer market.

The club have confirmed they’ve not received a bid for any of their players this summer, despite predictions that relegation would spark a mass exodus from the Riverside.

Johnson became a frustrated figure last season, making only seven league starts and rejecting a contract extension.

He now has an opportunity to impress in front of a global audience as England Under-21s begin their European Championship campaign this Monday, with Boro expecting to receive offers for the Easington-born winger.

But Keith Lamb, the Middlesbrough chief executive, has confirmed that unless the club receive an “exceptional offer” the 21-year-old will be lining up in a Boro shirt when the Championship season kicks off in eight weeks.

Gareth Southgate revealed he’s targeting potential new recruits with “hunger” and “energy”, but he finds himself in the tricky situation of not knowing which of his most coveted players will still be at the club next season.

Lamb is convinced Johnson will remain part of Southgate’s squad.

“Adam is contracted for another year,” he insisted. “He knows that with Stewart’s (Downing) injury that he will get another opportunity to perform as a regular in the Championship. Where his career goes from there will be up to Adam.

“No-one will be allowed to leave on the cheap. There’s no need for a fire sale here. We expect players to go and we need to reduce the wage bill.

Adam will not have a massive impact on the wage bill unless he accepts the new offer.

“That rejection of a contract offer was old news. We have been discussing a contract with Adam and his parents all last season. Negotiations continued throughout.

His parents said they wanted to leave it for a few months and we made it clear that Adam would not be leaving this summer. We said he would be staying with us in the Championship or the Premier League.”

David Wheater has been linked with a move to Aston Villa and while sources in the Midlands confirmed Martin O’Neil is an admirer of the England defender, no offer has been made.

Suggestions that Southgate was preparing to accept striker Marlon Harewood as a makeweight in any deal taking Wheater to Villa Park were met with a terse “no chance” by the Boro boss.