West Ham could make late swoop to sign West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone
West Ham could make a last-ditch effort to sign West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone after he fell out with Valerien Ismael, according to The Mirror.
The newspaper reported via their print edition on Friday [28 January, page page 58] that Ismael has frozen Johnstone, 28, out after a behind-the-scenes row.
It is understood that West Ham, Tottenham and Southampton could all make late January moves to sign the England goalkeeper, who was left out of West Brom’s squad when they were beaten 2-0 by Preston on Wednesday.
The Mirror adds that Johnstone will also be excluded from Albion’s trip to Millwall on Saturday, further throwing his future into doubt with his contract set to expire in the summer after a new deal was rejected.
Is he needed?
West Ham do not need to sign Johnstone just yet – but they may need him in the summer transfer window.
Johnstone did brilliantly for the Baggies last season despite their relegation from the Premier League.
His performances in goals earned a call-up to the England squad and a spot in Gareth Southgate’s squad at the European Championships.
Last February, Gary Lineker hailed the former Manchester United goalkeeper’s “unbelievable” and “sensational” shot-stopping ability in the Premier League.
While the goal has understandably been quieter for Johnstone this season in the Championship, he’s still performed well and kept 11 clean sheets in 24 appearances, conceding just 17 times.
He has, however, fallen out with Albion’s under-pressure manager Ismael and that means that he’s now destined to move away from The Hawthorns either between now and the Monday deadline, or in the summer.
Lukasz Fabianski is our number one and his deal has been extended until next season while Alphonse Areola is on a loan-to-buy, with the option for that to be made permanent in the summer.
If Areola is unhappy with the lack of starts he’s had this season, especially in the Premier League, he may want to return to Paris Saint-Germain and that means there’ll be a spot for Johnstone in the side.
In other West Ham news, Ally McCoist agrees that this “brilliant” player wants to join the Hammers.