Dan Cook has been speaking on the HLTCO podcast about how Crystal Palace could be replacing Jack Butland with Sam Johnstone.
Butland, who has been described as a ‘positive professional’ by Patrick Vieira, arrived at Crystal Palace in the summer of 2020 from Championship side Stoke City but has been unable to push Vicente Guaita out of the No 1 spot, starting just a handful of games since joining the Eagles. That has led to reports suggesting he could be set to leave this summer.
Newly promoted Bournemouth are said to hold an interest in the 29-year old, but he could be pushed out even before he decides to leave, with talk rife of Palace looking to sign free agent Johnstone, who has confirmed he will leave West Bromwich Albion following the expiry of his deal this summer.
Cook believes that Johnstone could become Butland’s replacement that pushes Guaita for a starting role at Selhurst Park.
Who would you rather have at Palace?
Butland!
Johnstone!
He said: “It’s certainly an interesting time for Palace, because we’ve got an ageing Vicente Guaita, Jack Butland hasn’t necessarily pulled up that many trees in Palace colours, and as a consequence could well be leaving the football club this summer if Sam Johnstone comes in.”
TIF Thoughts on Butland’s future…
Butland’s career has certainly not lived up to the heights once on offer to him as he was a regular within the England squad during his time with Stoke in the Premier League and has even earned himself nine international caps. But over the last two seasons, he’s started just nine league games.
If Palace are able to recoup any sort of fee for Butland – or potentially more than the £990,000 they paid for him two years ago – and then bring in Johnstone on a free transfer, that would surely look to be brilliant business on paper, especially considering Johnstone was an England player just last year and has previously attracted interest from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur.