Southampton favourites to seal last-gasp signing of West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone
Southampton are “favourites” to secure a deadline day deal to sign West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, according to The Express & Star.
The newspaper reported today (31 January) that Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl could still bring in a new goalkeeper before the 11pm transfer deadline and may take advantage of Johnstone’s situation at The Hawthorns.
Valerien Ismael has left Johnstone, 28, out of his last two matchday squads in the Championship after a reported bust-up over squad selection [The Athletic].
Time to cash in?
Let’s face it, we’re not going to win promotion to the Premier League this season and while Johnstone is a top goalkeeper, we may as well sell him.
Johnstone alone isn’t going to lead us to promotion so we may as well sell him now and take the money while we can.
We won’t get much, we’re probably talking a couple of million.
It’s embarrassing that the Baggies have left Johnstone’s contract to wind down to this point because if he still had a few years remaining, the England international would be one of the biggest financial assets at the club.
Billionaire-owned Southampton [Guardian] will do well to sign Johnstone.
He had a rocky start at The Hawthorns and faced a lot of criticism but he came into his own in the Premier League last season and did so well that he was pushing Jordan Pickford for his starting spot at the European Championships with England.
We wish Johnstone all the best if he moves on and we really don’t blame him.
Why on earth is Ismael, who’s been under pressure for months now, picking fights with one of his best players just because he wants to leave him out of his matchday squad?
Ridiculous.
In other West Brom news, this ex-Baggies manager is top choice to replace Ismael.