Goalkeeper Basso is still wanted at Gate, says Bristol City manager Johnson

It is not too late for Adriano Basso to perform a U-turn and sign a new deal at Ashton Gate.

So says Bristol City manager Gary Johnson, who desperately wants the Brazilian goalkeeper to stay.

Basso's days in Bristol appeared numbered when he refused to sign a new contract and submitted a written transfer request in the summer.

But City have yet to receive a single enquiry for the 34-year-old stopper, who is hell-bent on leaving when his current deal expires at the end of this season.

Although Basso has set his heart on a move to the Barclays Premier League, remaining with City would still seem to represent the South American's best chance of reaching the top flight.

And Johnson insists the door is still open for Basso to undergo a change of heart and commit his future to City.

"I'm hoping that Adriano will wake up one morning, ask to see me and say 'where's that new contract,' said Johnson.

"We want him to know he is still wanted. Then if the penny finally drops and he realises no-one in the Premier League is interested, we could still have a very good goalkeeper on our hands.

"We already have two good goalkeepers in Dean Gerken and Stephen Henderson, but I'd like Basso to stay as well."

Basso has stood firm by his decision despite repeated attempts on the part of the management and directors to persuade him to sign a contract extension.

Johnson said: "We respect his views. Adriano knows that, at his age, he probably has one last opportunity to play at the top level, and we understand where he is coming from. He believes that there will be a Premier League club that wants him come the end of the season.

"I believe his best chance of playing at the top level is to stay put and that's where we disagree."

Despite calls from some supporters to drop Basso and call-up former Republic of Ireland Under-21 keeper Henderson to the bench, Johnson has continued to make use of the Brazilian, who has made four first-team starts this season.

He explained: "I don't have a problem with using him. Basso wants to give everything to this football club this season, but doesn't want to sign a new deal.

"When he's come in he has done a good job for us and he's continued to work very, very hard in training. None of the boys feels he is nicking a living and he is certainly not sitting back and just seeing his contract out. If that was the case, he would not be in the squad.

"He gives everything in training, he gives everything when he is in the team and we want to keep using him because he is experienced and a very good keeper."

Johnson has revealed he is considering the possibility of sending Henderson out on loan to gain valuable first-team experience.

He said: "He gets a bit frustrated because there are not that many young keepers in the Championship and we need an experienced one on our bench.

"Stephen still has to grow up a bit and he's not quite ready yet, so we might send him out on loan.

"But if we end up losing Basso, I would not hesitate to use Stephen, because I think he is a very good keeper."