Kevin Phillips: Tom Heaton would be ‘Excellent’ Sam Johnstone replacement at West Brom
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Aston Villa goalkeeper Tom Heaton would be “an excellent replacement” for Sam Johnstone at West Brom, according to Kevin Phillips.
Johnstone, 28, has been strongly linked with a move away from the Baggies in the summer as he’ll enter the final year of his contract and, with relegation to the Championship looking likely, he’s proven himself to be a top Premier League goalkeeper.
According to The Athletic, Albion won’t stand in Johnstone’s way if an acceptable offer is made for him in the next transfer window and journalist Steve Madeley has mooted Villa’s Heaton as a possible replacement with the 34-year-old’s contract expiring in the summer.
Phillips believes the three-time England international would be a good addition to the West Brom squad ahead of next season.
“Excuse the pun but he’s a safe pair of hands,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“He’s got experience, he’s played at the top level, he’s an England international.
“That would be an excellent replacement [for Johnstone] if that came off.
“If I was a West Brom supporter I would be very happy with that.”
Heaton has not played for the Villa first-team this season due to injury and the fact that Emiliano Martinez has stolen his number one spot in Dean Smith’s squad.
He’s still a proven shot-stopper in England’s top-two tiers though having played 116 times in the Premier League and 185 times in the Championship, as well as earning three caps for England.
Johnstone has been superb for the Albion this season with his penalty save on Monday night capping a campaign in which he’s proven he can play regularly in the Premier League.
It seems likely he’ll move on in the summer and whoever he signs for will be getting themselves a safe pair of hands going forward.
As for West Brom, they have options on the books at the club in David Button and Alex Palmer so it remains to be seen whether or not they feel a replacement for Johnstone is needed.
But as Heaton is expected to be available on a free transfer, signing someone of his experience does seem a bit of a no-brainer unless he asks for too much in wages.
In other West Brom news, Keith Hackett wants a key official sacked after the controversy in the win against Southampton.
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