Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan is hopeful that winger Adam Johnson will remain on Teesside when the transfer window closes.
Manchester City, Chelsea, Sunderland and Wolves have all been linked with the 22-year-old winger, whose contract runs out at the end of the season.
However, Strachan has repeatedly insisted he is not for sale and when asked once again about his situation, said he was optimistic the player will see out his current deal at the Riverside Stadium.
He said: "In my opinion, I think he will still be here once the window shuts, one way or another, because the guy likes playing for the club.
"He's a good kid and he understands it. He would like to try to get us back to the top level."
Boro have been encouraged by the level of compensation Chelsea were ordered to pay Manchester City - an initial £3.5million potentially rising to around £7million - for Daniel Sturridge with their own Academy graduate Johnson significantly more experienced at senior level.
