ExWHUemployee has been discussing Sam Johnstone and a possible move to West Ham United in the future.
Goalkeeper is a position that is going to need to be addressed sooner or later at West Ham. The club’s long-term established number-one Lukasz Fabianski will come to the end of his contract at the end of the season, and someone is going to have to take up that spot – although he is thought to be in talks over an extension.
One possible option is Alphonse Areola, who the club signed on loan last summer. The Hammers do have the option to buy him at the end of the campaign, although he hasn’t had much of an opportunity to impress this season, given that he has only made 10 appearances so far, with the vast majority of them in cup competitions.
Writing about the matter in a transfer update on his Patreon page, Ex claimed that the club are still to make a decision on the Frenchman’s future, hinting that the club might instead turn to a different option in the form of West Brom goalkeeper Johnstone.
He wrote: “Alphonse Areola does have an option to buy at the end of his spell but the club will need to make a decision on whether they sign the player or try to loan him for a second year.
“David Moyes has maintained an interest in Sam Johnstone of WBA, who not only is a Will Salthouse [client], but is also out of contract in the summer.”
TIF Thoughts on ExWHUemployee’s comments about Sam Johnstone at West Ham United…
Would you like to see West Ham sign Sam Johnstone this summer?
Yes
No
Johnstone is someone that West Ham have reportedly been interested in for some time, even going so far as to bid for him last summer, only to have the bid rejected by the Baggies. However, this summer it looks as if it might be a lot easier for them to bring the 28-year-old to the London Stadium, with his own contract running down.
And that’s why they should probably be aiming towards signing him instead. Whilst the two goalkeepers are relatively similar in terms of ability – with the Frenchman saving 73.1% of shots he faced in 2020-21 compared to Johnstone’s 70.7% (via FBRef) – considering West Ham will reportedly have to pay roughly £11m for Areola in the summer if they want to sign him, you could argue that money might be better spent elsewhere while bringing in Johnstone for free.
And as Ex hints at, given the relationship that the relevant parties may have with each other, you would imagine that West Ham should be able to sail through negotiations and grab him ahead of any other teams that might be showing an interest.
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