According to Alasdair Gold, Tottenham Hotspur are leading the race to sign Sam Johnstone from West Bromwich Albion this summer.
Johnstone is currently in his fourth season at The Hawthorns and is the Baggies’ undisputed No 1 between the sticks, having missed just four league games since the start of the 2018/19 campaign. However, his contract is set to run out at the end of the campaign, and WBA journalist Steve Madeley stated earlier this season that the shot-stopper is likely to leave at the end of the term.
Now, as per Gold, Spurs are in pole position to capture the 29-year-old. The reporter also suggested Johnstone could be just one of several signings to arrive in north London.
But what could be the consequences of Johnstone’s potential switch to Tottenham? Read on to find out.
Lloris replacement?
Lloris has been one of the first names on the teamsheet for Tottenham since his transfer from Lyon in 2012. However, while he was once one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, his powers have waned in recent years as more errors have crept into his game.
At 35 years of age, the end of the Frenchman’s career is fast approaching, and having recently signed a contract extension, it could well be his final one in N17. Gold stated that Johnstone would initially be backup to the 2018 World Cup winner, but being six years his junior, the Englishman could well be Lloris’ long-term replacement.
Could save Levy millions
Bringing in Johnstone could also be a chance for Daniel Levy to sign off on a bargain. The former Aston Villa man has years of experience throughout the Premier League and EFL, and has three caps for the Three Lions to his name.
He has averaged a save percentage of at least 70% in each of the last five full seasons, which illustrates his reliability. Spurs would struggle to sign another goalkeeper of Johnstone’s quality without spending as much as a penny on a transfer fee.
It could also prove key to Tottenham’s overall transfer window strategy. With current cover Pierluigi Gollini only on loan from Atalanta, the goalkeeping position requires reinforcement. Antonio Conte has reportedly made it clear he wants to bring in several fresh faces, which is likely to be relatively expensive for Levy and co. Therefore, any deal that can be done on the cheap should be lapped up, which makes Johnstone’s potential capture even more enticing.
TIF Verdict…
Quite frankly, this is a no-brainer. Johnstone ticks a whole host of boxes, and Spurs must come to an agreement with the player as quickly as possible so they can move forward with their transfer plans.
Should Tottenham sign Johnstone?
Yes
No
Conte loves a free transfer – such deals have allowed him to pick up Alexis Sanchez, Arturo Vidal, Diego Godin and Andrea Pirlo amongst plenty of others in the past. Johnstone could be another name to add to the illustrious list.