Kevin Phillips: Sam Johnstone needs to be careful of next move after 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…
Kevin Phillips has sent a big transfer warning to West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone with a summer exit looking likely.
The ex-Baggies talisman has reacted to the Daily Mail reporting that the England international is on a final shortlist at Newcastle.
Johnstone is set to leave The Hawthorns with his current deal expiring at the end of this current season.
“I think Dubravka is a good goalkeeper,” he exclusively told West Brom News.
“I think it would be good competition, but, I think Sam has to be a bit careful where he goes, you don’t want to go just for financial reasons and find yourself not playing.
“You’ve got to be playing regularly, and then your chances of the England squad diminish even more. If he is to leave in the summer, he needs to be very careful where he goes.
“If he’s going to go, he needs to go somewhere he wants to stay involved in that England set-up. You’d like to think if Newcastle sign him, they’d make him their number one.”
Going to Newcastle could end up being a big mistake for Johnstone.
Does he risk moving to a club that could replace him with spare change with the click of a finger? Or does he want that guaranteed spot?
With the World Cup in Qatar coming up at the end of the year, these are decisions that he cannot afford to get wrong.
Gareth Southgate will be watching, and we wonder if he will live to regret moving on if that happens in the summer.
In other West Brom news, Steve Bruce has held talks over new Baggies signing since arriving with a work permit update shared
Be sure to follow West Brom News on Facebook for 24/7 updates on the Baggies plus more exclusive interviews with Kevin Phillips