IT is little wonder Middlesbrough are holding on to Adam Johnson.

When Chelsea were ordered to pay £3.5m rising to £6.5m for Daniel Sturridge last week, Boro’s determination must have been strengthened.

Johnson is one of the lowest paid players at the Riverside Stadium, having signed his last contract in the summer of 2006, and many felt Middlesbrough would struggle to win more in a tribunal than they could receive if they sold him in this month’s transfer window.

The Sturridge ruling, however, will have hardened the resolve of the club – and so it should.

For all that Sturridge is regarded as one of the English game’s hot striking prospects, at this stage he has not achieved anywhere near what Johnson has managed.

So if Middlesbrough do hold on to Johnson beyond this month, giving him the freedom to join who he likes at the end of his contract in the summer, the Teesside outfit must be more confident than ever of receiving a high fee.

When the Professional Football Compensation Committee (PFCC) convene, which is likely to be some six months after Johnson has left Boro, they take into account a variety of factors.

As well as drawing on evidence from each club to support their respective valuations of the player, the committee considers the costs of running an Academy, the age and playing record of the player and the length of time he was registered with the original club.

They then assess the contract terms being offered by both clubs, the status of the two and the amount of genuine interest from other clubs shown in the player.

What tends to happen, is that a basic compensation fee is awarded and then further payments are based on performancerelated bonuses, such as representing England.

With that in mind, Middlesbrough clearly have a strong case to argue they deserve to be awarded a similar amount to City – if not more.

There is plenty of interest in Johnson already, with Chelsea and Sunderland monitoring the situation and both Wolves and Birmingham reputedly ready to offer around £6.5m before the end of the month.

But with Johnson unlikely to rush into any deal with Wolves or Birmingham, the most likely scenario is that he heads into the summer able to pick his next club.

In terms of performances, Middlesbrough would also have a strong case. Since making his debut aged 17 in the UEFA Cup, he has gone on to make 46 league starts and a further 47 appearances from the bench – albeit 23 starts in the Championship.

Contrast that to Sturridge, who turned 20 in September, and he only boasts six Premier League league starts, five of which were for Manchester City.

Last week’s ruling will have been noted at the Riverside.

The highly-rated leftwinger will more than likely turn his back on Boro in the not too distant future, but there is every chance it will not be for as little as first thought.