Varun Pai
Transfer News: Manchester United target Sam Johnstone might end up staying at West Brom
According to transfer news from The Sun (h/t The72), Manchester United may miss out on Sam Johnstone this summer, as the player might end up signing a new contract with West Bromwich Albion.
The goalkeeper, who spent nearly 15 years with the Red Devils, never made a senior appearance for the club, but was a popular figure at the AON training complex, especially after becoming one of the most pivotal figures in the club’s FA Youth Cup success in 2011.
However, after spending an impressive two seasons on loan at Aston Villa, where he racked 48 appearances in his second spell, Johnstone signed for West Bromwich Albion in 2018 for £5million.
United have been interested in signing the player back this season after his impressive performances in the Premier League last season with the Baggies, where he clocked 37 out of a possible 38 league appearances.
Moreover, the 28-year-old’s contract is up next summer, and while West Ham already tabled a bid for the shot-stopper earlier this summer, their offer of £6million was far off from West Brom’s £20million valuation of the player.
United, however, may now miss out on the completely as West Brom are ready to offer the player a new deal this summer, according to a piece written by Alan Nixon in The Sun (h/t The72). The Baggies are trying to ‘make up for blocking his exit to the Premier League’ this summer, while the piece also went on to mention how the player is still on United’s radar and that Spurs could sign the player next summer if he is a free agent.
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It also looks like Johnstone will accept better terms than running down his contract, which is a blow for the Red Devils, as they might have considered signing the player on a free next summer.
While United already signed Tom Heaton this summer and have Dean Henderson and David de Gea vying for the first-team spot, it would be interesting to see whether the Red Devils will still push for the player next summer, if not this summer.
