Manchester United have slapped a £6.5 million price tag on academy graduate Sam Johnstone, who is currently away on loan at Aston Villa.
Manchester United are set to demand a fee of £6.5 million from EFL Championship side Aston Villa, for the services of goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, according to a report from the Sun.
The Manchester United academy product is currently on a season-long loan with the Villans, where he has been in splendid form, helping them to challenge for Premier League promotion for the upcoming campaign. The 24-year-old Englishman has made 35 appearances for Steve Bruce’s side in the second division, managing 15 clean sheets.
Johnstone’s contract with United was set to expire at the end of the season, but the club have decided to activate the option to extend his deal by another 12 months, ensuring that they do not lose him on a free transfer at the end of the season.
The player’s future at United is far from clear though, given that he will be behind David De Gea, Sergio Romero and Joel Pereira in the pecking order once he returns to the club after the culmination of his loan spell. And it is understood that he is keen to hold talks with the Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho once the season wraps up, before deciding on any further course of action.
Johnstone has recently hinted that he would like to make his switch to the Villa Park a permanent one should the team make it back to the Premier League next season. As quoted by the Sun, he said: “I want to keep playing football. I’m enjoying the number of games I’m playing. The Premier League is where you want to be week in, week out. I’d love it for this club to be a part of that next season.”
Villa too are believed to be very much interested in bringing the 24-year old on a permanent deal, having been impressed with his performances over the course of the season. And manager Steve Bruce is expected to hold talks with Mourinho in the coming weeks over the possibility of a transfer.
Having come through the Manchester United academy, Johnstone is yet to make his senior debut at the club. He has had various loan spells throughout his career at Oldham Athletic, Scunthorpe United, Walsall FC, Yeovil Town, Doncaster Rovers and Preston North End.
The 24-year old was on loan with Aston Villa in the second half of the last season as well and seems to have found stability at the Villa Park over the last year or so. With his chances of breaking into the United first-team not very bright, a permanent move would be the best option for Johnstone and the Red Devils too seem willing to do business. But, it remains to be seen if Villa stump up the fees that they are demanding for the transfer.
