Improving Aston Villa or struggling West Brom? It’s decision time for Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Sam Johnstone in action during the Sky Bet Championship match against Newcastle United.
Sam Johnstone could be switching Midlands teams in the January transfer window with the Aston Villa loanee being targeted by West Bromwich Albion, according to the Sun.
The goalkeeper, on loan from Manchester United, has impressed during the first half of the season for Villa during what is is second temporary stint at the club.
Steve Bruce, manager of Aston Villa, applauds the crowd after the Sky Bet Championship match against Birmingham City.
In fact Johnstone has been so good that manager Steve Bruce has made it publicly known that he wants to make the 24-year-old a permanent signing himself in the New Year.
However, Bruce now faces competition from the Hawthorns, although it was recently sacked boss Tony Pulis who viewed the stopper as the ideal competition for Ben Foster and was prepared to pay £5m to secure his services.
This would raise a difficult decision for Johnstone – does he continue to be first choice for the Villans in the Championship, or battle as an understudy at a Premier League side?
Former West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis.
If the ‘keeper chooses the Baggies then the problem is a lot can change over the course of a campaign and West Brom are currently only one point outside the relegation zone after a poor start to the 2017/18 term.
Meanwhile, in the second tier, Bruce’s men are climbing upwards and are currently fifth and well placed in the playoff places.
It is not too farfetched to suggest the two clubs could swap divisions come next summer and Johnstone maybe needs to consider the long-term ramifications of any decision.
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