West Ham United ‘leading race’ to sign Sam Johnstone from West Brom
West Ham United have suddenly emerged as leaders in the race to sign West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. according to The Athletic.
The 29-year-old has already confirmed his intentions to leave The Hawthorns at the end of his current contract, which expires this summer, and plenty of Premier League sides have begun to circle in the hope of signing him.
Johnstone is keen to try and impress Gareth Southgate ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup in November and he feels that he needs to play in the top flight to have a chance of returning to the England squad.
Tottenham Hotspur are one of the main contenders for the Baggies’ number one as they look to find a replacement for the ageing Hugo Lloris but David Moyes wants to beat their local rivals to the punch.
The Hammers already have Lukasz Fabianski tied down to a deal and they would also like to keep Alphonse Areola around after his loan from PSG expires in the summer while David Martin and Darren Randolph provide backup.
Unnecessary
As we’ve just reeled off, there are already three, potentially four, goalkeepers who will be here next season so why we need to go and buy another is anybody’s guess.
Admittedly, Fabianski is getting on a bit now, like Lloris, and a replacement is needed sooner rather than later but that is what Areola is meant to be, surely? Martin and Randolph can both do a job when required too so these reports are very odd.
He already knows the squad, the management and the club and has been exemplary in the Europa League this season and there wouldn’t be too many worries if he had to take the gloves at late notice in the league either.
There seems to have been a few reports recently of us trying to buy players in areas we don’t need them but we have to hope they aren’t true because Moyes knows where the issues are, and he needs to address them first and foremost.
In other West Ham news, the boss could do with offloading this ageing defender to make room for new arrivals.