Everton have joined the race to sign West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone but Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur are confident of securing the England international’s signature, according to The Mirror.
Earlier this month, Baggies boss Steve Bruce confirmed one of the worst kept secrets in the EFL. Johnstone will be leaving the Hawthorns when his contract expires on July 1.
Where he will be plying his trade in 2022/23, however, remains a mystery at this stage. But the smart money is on a Tottenham side in the market for a dependable shot-stopper with Pierluigi Gollini returning to Italy on the back of a forgettable loan spell in North London.
The Sun reported recently that Spurs are ‘confident’ of sealing a deal for Johnstone, one of the Premier League’s most impressive – albeit overworked – goalkeepers last season.
The Mirror backs up those claims, saying that Tottenham believe the are in ‘pole position’.
But Everton are motoring along in behind, accelerating forward in Spurs’ rearview mirror.
Which club will Sam Johnstone join?
The Toffees, who moved one step closer to Premier League survival with a hard-earned point against Leicester City on Wednesday night, may see Johnstone as a successor for Asmir Begovic.
Links with the former Manchester United youngster will race questions about Jordan Pickford’s future at Goodison Park. But Begovic’s 12 month deal expires in a matter of weeks and the veteran Bosnian will need replacing.
“He’s one of the best,” former Everton boss Sam Allardyce told talkSPORT after Johnstone’s Man of the Match display in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool last term. “He’s right up there at the right level and he’d already saved more shots than anybody before yesterday.
“That one brilliant save was a magnificent save when we needed it.”
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According to The Times, West Ham have backed out of the race for Johnstone’s signature. Southampton, meanwhile, must be tempted to hand Fraser Forster a new deal after he channelled his inner-Iker Casillas against Arsenal last weekend.
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