Cardiff City have turned down a £1 million bid from Town for central defender Roger Johnson, according to reports in the Welsh press. Johnson was claimed to be target of the Blues, Middlesbrough and two other Premier League clubs on Friday.

The Bluebirds are said to have rebuffed Town's offer and have slapped a £3 million price tag on the 25-year-old's head, but are expecting further bids. Town are unlikely to pay anything like £3 million for any single player this summer, despite having the backing of Marcus Evans's millions.

At least one central defender is on Jim Magilton's summer wish-list with Leicester's Gareth McAuley believed to be his main priority, the Town manager having failed to land the Northern Irish international in January.

Ashford-born Johnson, at 6ft 31⁄2in tall, is in a similar mould to McAuley and if today's report proves to be true may be seen as an alternative to the ex-Lincoln man if the Blues believe the reported £1.75 million fee asked by Leicester is too high. That being the case, a £3 million pricing of Johnson would similarly rule him out. Earlier in the week, Blackpool's Kaspars Gorkss was also linked, but the Latvian doesn't appear to be a Town target.

Johnson joined the Bluebirds from Wycombe Wanderers for £275,000 in July 2006 and impressed last season as Dave Jones's side reached the FA Cup final.

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