Manchester United will reportedly consider re-signing former academy man Sam Johnstone if either David de Gea or Dean Henderson leave in the summer.
According to a report from The Sun, Manchester United are mulling over the possibility of bringing back former goalkeeper Sam Johnstone from West Bromwich Albion in the summer transfer window.
The 28-year-old Johnstone came through the Manchester United academy, but was never able to make the grade to the first-team owing to the immovable presence of David de Gea in goal. And after a series of loan spells across the lower tiers of English football, he left Old Trafford permanently in 2018, signing for West Brom.
In his three years at the Hawthorns, Johnstone has cemented his status as the first-choice as well as one of the top goalkeepers in England, which resulted in him getting called up to the England national team last month. Having helped the Baggies to promotion to the Premier League, the 28-year-old has been one of the few positives for them in what has been a poor campaign so far.
Nevertheless, with West Brom staring at the prospect of relegation from the top-flight and Johnstone’s contract expiring in little over a year, he could be on the move at the end of the season. And, this has alerted former club Manchester United, who could be in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has two top custodians in the form of David de Gea and Dean Henderson at his disposal currently. While the former had been the undisputed No. 1 since the start of the campaign, that has changed in recent weeks, with Henderson taking over the mantle, having started United’s last two league games despite de Gea’s availability.
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This has led to speculations over the future of the Spanish international, with the Red Devils reportedly open to cashing in on him this summer for a transfer fee of around £50 million. With Sergio Romero, Lee Grant as well as Joel Pereira out of contract at the end of the season, de Gea’s potential departure would leave Henderson without a deputy.
If de Gea does end up staying at the club, that would raise question marks over the future of Henderson, who has previously made it clear that he wants to be playing on a regular basis. So, there is a very strong possibility that either of the two will be leaving Manchester United before next season. And the club has identified Johnstone as a possible option to fill the void.
There have been reports of interest in Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak as well. But Johnstone, given his contract situation, would be a much cheaper alternative. It now remains to be seen if Manchester United do take measures to try and bring back their ex-academy man before next season.
ManU does not need a GK, they need a proper centre-back and a top striker.