Southampton preparing move for Sam Johnstone
It is an open secret that Southampton need to sign a goalkeeper.
Reports in the British media claim that Southampton are preparing move for WBA goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
The England international was signed by WBA in July 2018 from Manchester United for a fee of 7.35 million euros. The 28-year-old has a contract until 2022 with the club.
Since his arrival from United, Johnstone has conceded 190 goals and provided 34 clean sheets in 141 games for WBA.
The 28-year-old is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in England. As a member of England national football team, Johnstone won three caps.
His performances have seen him become the target of many Premier League clubs including Southampton.
Ralph Hasenhüttl wants to sign a new goalkeeper and Johnstone is one of the names at the top of his wishlist. The Southampton manager has kept an eye on Johnstone for the last 12 months and he is impressed with the goalkeeper’s performances.
The Saints are desperate to make an impact in the winter transfer window.
Sam Johnstone has the quality and the experience to make an immediate impact.
According to the report, “Southampton are planning a January offer for West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. The Express & Star says out of contract in June, Johnstone’s performances for both club and country have led to a host of top-flight clubs sending scouts to watch him in recent months. Now established in the England set-up, Johnstone knows he needs to be playing Premier League football at the start of the 2021/22 season to have a realistic chance of going to the World Cup. The 28-year-old has held talks with Albion about extending his contract at The Hawthorns. But Premier League clubs are circling with the keeper potentially available on a free transfer this summer. In a bid to jump ahead of the queue, Southampton are believed to weighing up a bid for Johnstone this January.”
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If Southampton can agree on a fee with WBA, the deal should be easy to complete.
The Championship club are preparing to sell their goalkeeper should they receive right offer for him.
Sam Johnstone ideal fit for Southampton?
Undoubtedly he would be a fantastic recruit for Southampton.
Sam Johnstone has all the skillset required to be a success story at Southampton. Therefore, it makes sense for Hasenhüttl to step up his attempts to bring the England goalkeeper to Premier League side.
Southampton fans would certainly love to see him arrive at the club.
It will be interesting to see what happens when Southampton come calling for Johnstone this winter.
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Would you like to see the club make a move for Sam Johnstone this winter?
Bologna-born Giuseppe Bianchi has spent more than a decade living in Rome and writing about Italian football, Spanish football and the Premier League for various Italian football portals and now he writes about European football for Euro Football Rumours. He's been thinking about football transfers pretty much nonstop since the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. Aside from writing, he likes to spend his time fishing and rock climbing.