The Aston Villa stopper has been in fine form this season.
Villa boss Steve Bruce spoke exclusively to reporters in the aftermath of his side’s superb 5-0 thrashing of Bristol City last night, and opened up on a conversation he shared with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho regarding Sam Johnstone, as quoted by the Daily Express.
The 24-year-old has been in superb form for the Villans this season, and has been ever present for Bruce’s side, appearing in all 26 Championship outings for his club thus far.
A report from the Express & Star yesterday claimed that Johnstone had told close friends that he will be making a permanent £4 million switch to West Bromwich Albion during the January transfer window.
Click HERE to read: Aston Villa’s five-point plan for the January transfer window
Bruce, though, denied any such talk of the goalkeeper completing a switch to the Hawthorns, when speaking to reporters, explaining that he would like to think that Mourinho would have told him as much, as quoted by the Daily Express:
“Well I spoke to Jose two days ago and I would have thought he would have mentioned something. I sincerely hope not. I haven’t heard anything. We certainly don’t want it to happen.”
Villa have the third best defensive record in the Championship this season, and Johnstone’s displays have been a major contributing factor behind that.
With this in mind, Bruce will surely do everything within his power to make his loan switch to Villa Park a permanent one this month.
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