MIDDLESBROUGH will do everything they can to keep Adam Johnson at the Riverside Stadium despite an approach from Rangers for the promising winger.

The Scottish Premier League and UEFA Cup runners-up want Johnson to provide the width next season and ideally they would like him on a permanent basis.

Rangers have the cash available to spend this summer after a successful season in Europe that has earned around £23m and is further boosted by the £9m January sale of Alan Hutton to Tottenham.

And Gers manager Walter Smith has earmarked the flanks as an area in most need of strengthening during the closeseason, with the Boro youngster high on his list of targets.

With Chris Burke sidelined for six months with ankle ligament damage and Steven Naismith likely to be missing for nine months with a serious cruciate ligament injury, Smith only has American DeMarcus Beasley available to provide the width.

The injury situation has highlighted to the former Scotland manager that he needs to add two new wingers to his playing staff before August.

Johnson has emerged as his leading target as one of the hot prospects of the Premier League, despite failing to hold down a first-team place under Gareth Southgate.

The Easington-born midfielder is highly regarded by Southgate, who recently admitted that the player could find himself playing right midfield next season.

With doubts still surrounding the future of Gary O'Neil, unsettled and looking for a move south, Southgate is keen to guard against being caught short come the start of the new campaign.

If O'Neil was to depart then, as the squad stands, central midfielders Lee Cattermole and George Boateng, along with strikers Jeremie Aliadiere and Tuncay Sanli, provide options on the right.

Southgate does have an interest in Newcastle's James Milner, although with no certainties he is reluctant to sanction the departure of one of his most promising talents.

If Rangers - who were rebuffed back by Boro when they made a similar approach for Stewart Downing five years ago - continue to be thwarted in their attempts to land Johnson on a permanent basis, they will explore the possibility of taking him on loan again in August.

The Ibrox giants are hoping to get most of their transfer dealings done quickly and they are still hopeful of landing him, even if it means having to pay a loan fee that would see Johnson move north of the border for at least half of next season.

After returning from a successful loan spell at Watford, Johnson became increasingly frustrated last season, making just three Premier League starts.

He was, though often used as a substitute, claiming 16 appearances from the bench.

Under-21 international Johnson has also been admired by Tottenham and Everton.

Middlesbrough striker Tuncay, and Newcastle's Emre have been named in the Turkey squad for Euro 2008.