Joe Chapman has provided an update on West Brom star Sam Johnstone
Valerien Ismael is still positive about Sam Johnstone’s new contract at West Brom, according to Joe Chapman.
Speaking in a Q & A session on the Birmingham Mail website, the reporter shared that talks are still going on in the background.
However, he believes that if the Baggies don’t get promoted this season, then this will almost certainly be Johnstone’s last season at The Hawthorns as he wants to play in the Premier League.
He said: “It’s very quiet. I do ask Val about whether it’s made any movements yet, and the answer has always been that we’re very relaxed, that it’s going on in the background and that the talks are still there.
“No reason to be concerned at this moment.
“If Albion are a Premier League team this time next year, then the likelihood is that Sam Johnstone will have signed a new contract.
“Will he still be in the Championship next season if Albion are? I think that’s a pretty definitive no.”
Johnstone’s situation is still unclear.
The 28-year-old missed the first game of the season because of his late return from international duty with England; however, he has played every league game since then.
He appears to be Ismael’s first-choice goalkeeper, and it would be brilliant if the Baggies could tie him down to a new contract.
It seems as if the talks are still happening, and hopefully, there will be a positive outcome soon.
However, the longer the situation drags on without a resolution then, the more likely it becomes that the goalkeeper doesn’t sign a new deal.
This would be a nightmare for the Baggies and could result in them losing out on a transfer fee or just keeping an international goalkeeper.
However, we believe that this is a positive update, and the talks are still progressing, which is a good thing.
In other West Brom news, the Baggies are set for a major cash boost before 2022.