Kansas had initially rebuffed Derby’s offer in the summer but the midland’s club are ready to up their bid after signing the Argentine striker Emanuel Villa. 

The Wizard’s Director of Football Peter Vermes has cleared the path for Johnson to join the Premier League but expects the MLS transfer record to be broken for his services.

“I don’t think we are naïve enough not to know we would reach this point,” said Vermes.

“A number of clubs from England and Europe have expressed an interest, and bottom line the pound is a lot stronger than the dollar or anything else (currency).

“That does not mean we will necessarily part with him the deal has to work for both sides.”

Reading is also in the chase having trialled him 12 months ago. The US international was Kansas City Wizard’s leading goal scorer this season with 16 goals in 24 games.

Soccer 365 understands it is expected the Johnson deal will smash the transfer record for a fee offered for an MLS player set by Fulham when they purchased Clint Dempsey in Dec 2006 for $4,000,000.