Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all reportedly keen on Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
According to The Mirror, Manchester United intend to let goalkeeper Sam Johnstone go out on loan, with Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers claimed to be the teams interested.
Johnstone, 23, has come up through the ranks at Old Trafford but has still yet to make his first-team debut for the club, and has spent time out on loan at Scunthorpe United, Walsall, Yeovil Town, Doncaster Rovers and hometown club Preston North End.
Sam Johnstone in action for Preston North End
Many thought that Johnstone would leave Old Trafford given that his contract was set to expire at the end of the season, but he surprisingly penned a new deal until 2018, with the option of another year.
Right now, Johnstone is behind David De Gea and Sergio Romero in the pecking order, and The Mirror claim that Johnstone is set to leave United for another loan move during the January transfer window.
Sam Johnstone – Manchester United
It’s stated that Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all in the race to sign him, and Johnstone is set to be loaned to one of the three Championship clubs.
Villa signed Pierluigi Gollini – a former United goalkeeper – over the summer, but the Italian has endured some ups and downs so far, and new manager Steve Bruce may want to bring in his own goalkeeper, with his links to United potentially helping him in the race to sign Johnstone.
Manchester United’s Sam Johnstone warms up
Meanwhile, Forest have leaked 30 goals in just 16 games this season – the second highest in the Championship – and with goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic coming in for criticism, Johnstone may be seen as a player with Football League experience who can stabilise the Forest back line.
Finally, Wolves have Carl Ikeme and Andy Lonergan in their ranks, but they also have a new manager at the helm in Paul Lambert, and he may also want his own goalkeeper in Johnstone, meaning this could be a fierce race for the shot stopper’s signature.
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