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Newly-entered I-League club JSW Sports are in advanced talks with former Middlesbrough defender John James Johnson, Sportskeeda can reveal.
A source confirmed that the Bangalore-based club are close to signing the 25-year-old, who is a free agent now after being released by English League Two outfit Northampton Town at the end of the 2012-13 campaign.
Johnson is usually a right back but can also operate in central defence and that is where he is likely to play for JSW if the deal gets completed.
The Middlesbrough youth product made just one EPL appearance for the club as a substitute in a 5-0 defeat to Chelsea in the 2008/09 campaign. Later that season, Johnson sealed a loan move to League One’s Tranmere Rovers before a loan spell at Northampton Town in 2009-10.
In 2010, he sealed a permanent switch to Northampton and narrowly missed out on promotion last season as the club lost the playoff final to League Cup finalists Bradford City. Johnson was released by the club this summer.
JSW have already roped in former Shillong Lajong, United Sikkim, and Dempo playmaker John Menyongar from Liberia as one of their foreigners and is expected to announce the full squad in a grand launch on July 20. Former Manchester United youth player Ashley Westwood has already been appointed as the head coach.
The home kit is also likely to be announced during the launch and it is believed to be inspired by the colours of FC Barcelona. JSW are also close to signing India captain Sunil Chhetri, but the star striker is expected to take a decision after having discussions with his parent club Sporting Lisbon ‘B’.
