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Middlesbrough’s reported cut-price Sam Johnstone deal may frustrate Leeds United

Thomas Christiansen (Reuters)
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Leeds United target Sam Johnstone is now seemingly likely to join Middlesbrough – leaving The Whites to pursue Werder Bremen’s Felix Wiedwald.

It’s no secret that Garry Monk isn’t exactly the most popular man amongst Leeds United supporters right now. Not only did he walk out of Elland Road at the end of the season despite seemingly being on the verge of agreeing a new contract, he also appears to have taken to nabbing a number of the club’s transfer targets.

Sky Sports claims that Middlesbrough, Monk’s new employers, attempted to snatch Polish playmaker Mateusz Klich from under Leeds’ nose before he put pen to paper at Elland Road in a deal from FC Twente.

And The Sun now claims that Monk could land Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone in a deal worth just £2.5 millionhalf the price the Old Trafford giants were expected to demand for the 24-year-old, as reported by The Mail.

Aston Villa’s Sam Johnstone and Tommy Elphick look dejected at the final whistle Sam Johnstone

This would be another blow for Leeds in a frustrating summer window. The Express claimed recently that The Whites wanted to sign Johnstone as a potential long-term successor for 37-year-old Rob Green.

However, while Johnstone is seemingly set for a move north instead, German publication Kicker claims that Werder Bremen goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald is now heading to Yorkshire.

Unlike Johnstone, who shone on loan at Aston Villa in the second half of last season, Wiedwald has no experience of English football having spent his entire career in Germany.

And while Johnstone enhanced his reputation with an excellent spell under Steve Bruce, at one point conceding just one goal in seven games, Wiedwald let in 51 in just 25 Bundesliga appearances, including 13 in his last three.

Felix WiedwaldFelix Wiedwald

Missing out on Johnstone, then, appears to be a missed opportunity for Leeds, and a frustrating one as he joins up with the Whites’ former boss at Boro.