West Bromwich Albion have reportedly slapped a £20 million price tag on Sam Johnstone, who is a target for Manchester United this summer.
According to an exclusive report by The Sun, Manchester United now know how much they will have to fork out in order to secure the services of Sam Johnstone in the summer transfer window. The 28-year-old goalkeeper, who is also a target for West Ham United, is valued at £20 million by West Bromwich Albion.
Sam Johnstone has established himself as one of the best English goalkeepers since calling it quits at Manchester United to join West Bromwich Albion in the summer of 2018. While at Manchester United, the 28-year-old could never really establish a foothold in the first-team setup, with David de Gea ahead of him in the pecking order.
A loan move to Aston Villa – his seventh such stint away from Old Trafford – helped him earn a lot of admirers and he has not looked back since. As far as his stint with West Brom is concerned, the player has turned out 131 times for the Baggies, keeping 30 clean sheets in the process. And, in a dismal 2020/21 Premier League campaign, Johnstone was one of the better performers for them.
While West Brom are now set to spend at least the next season in the Championship, Johnstone is eager to remain in the Premier League and has no shortage of suitors either. In fact, as things stand, former club Manchester United are among those keen on signing him.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to make some key changes to his squad in the summer transfer window, with the goalkeeping department being one of those set to be addressed, seeing as either David de Gea or Dean Henderson are likely to depart Old Trafford ahead of 2021/22. At present, de Gea’s future with the Red Devils appears to be more uncertain and his exit would prompt the recruitment of a replacement.
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To that end, the interest in Johnstone makes sense, while another former academy ace Tom Heaton is set to rejoin Manchester United as well, albeit as a replacement for Lee Grant. However, in order to swoop Johnstone away from West Brom, United will have to stump up around £20 million for his services.
Manchester United, though, are not the only suitor hot on the English goalkeeper’s trails, with West Ham United providing stiff competition. However, neither West Ham nor Manchester United are ready to meet his £20 million valuation and are waiting to see his price tag reduce before making a move. What now remains to be seen is if any of the three clubs is ready for a compromise.
