West Ham are eyeing up a summer swoop for Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, according to the Mirror.
The newspaper claim that the Hammers are due to send Joe Hart back to to Manchester City after his loan spell ends and are keen to launch a £4million bid to sign Johnstone, who has spent the season on loan at Aston Villa.
The Mirror report that United recently exercised an option to extend Johnstone’s contract until 2019, meaning the Hammers will have to pay up for the 25-year-old.
Johnstone has spent the last year-and-a-half on loan at Villa, and has made 60 appearances for the club after establishing himself as their number one.
Good move for West Ham?
Absolutely.
Johnstone has been somewhat of a late developer, having embarked on no less than seven loan spells in six years before settling at Villa Park.
The 25-year-old has really found his feet at the club and has been one of the Championship’s most-impressive stoppers this season.
Johnstone looks ready for a step up in competition, and providing the Hammers stay in the Premier League then they are a club that can provide that.
This is Futbol rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
This one is likely to depend on whether Aston Villa achieve promotion or not.
If the Villans do return to the Premier League then it is likely that they will have first option on buying Johnstone, as long as they can stump up the cash.
Johnstone would surely want to stay at the club if they do get promoted, as he is basically guaranteed to be their number one next season.
If not however, then West Ham would be in a good position to sign him this summer.
This is Futbol rating: 5/10