West Brom told Mikey Johnston transfer can be done as Celtic exit revelation made
Don Goodman believes Mikey Johnston should push for a move away from Celtic this summer, with a return to West Brom a realistic possibility.
Johnston lit up The Hawthorns in the second half of the 2023-24 campaign, scoring and assisting a combined nine goals in 20 league games.
The Ireland international has returned to Parkhead upon the completion of his loan deal, but Albion would love to have him back next season.
And Goodman insists a return to the Baggies should not be ruled out once the summer transfer window officially opens for business.
“I don’t see him in the Premier League just yet, but rather a Championship club that’s ambitious and wants to be at the top end of the division – a category West Brom will consider themselves in after this past season,” Goodman told West Brom News.
“West Brom will want to progress and try to have a run at automatic promotion if possible. If that’s not possible, then their bare minimum ambition under the new owner will be the play-offs. Johnstone has highlighted just what a fantastic asset he can be to any club at this level.
“The fact is that he was playing week in and week out, enjoying himself and embracing the challenge that comes with Championship football, which with respect in Scotland you’ve just got a head-to-head battle with Celtic and Rangers.
“So although he’d have the opportunity to play European football next season, which would be attractive to him, is Brendan Rodgers going to guarantee him game time? At this moment in time, I’d highly doubt that. If I was Mikey Johnstone and wasn’t guaranteed game time, I’d be looking to get away.”
West Brom should try everything to re-sign Mikey Johnston
Had Albion earned promotion to the Premier League, there is every chance signing Johnston would have been the first port of call.
However, with another season of second-tier football to come, that task becomes a whole lot harder.
Rodgers has already previously hinted that the Irishman will get more opportunities at Celtic next season after impressing out on loan.
However, if Johnston was to ask for a move away, it is unlikely Celtic would stand in his way. The only issue then, of course, is money.
The Baggies can finally spend money on players this summer now that Shilen Patel is in place, but being able to afford Johnston is another matter.
Ultimately, the only way he will return to The Hawthorns is if he asks for the move and if Celtic and West Brom can then find a fee that works.
As much as supporters would like to see this deal happen, those factors mean that realistically it is not going to happen.
In other West Brom news, a new update has been shared on Corberan to Leicester City.
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