Aston Villa are reportedly ramping up their interest in Sam Johnstone.
According to the Daily Mail, Aston Villa are ramping up their efforts to re-sign Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone this summer.
Villa have been quiet in the transfer market so far this summer, with Steve Bruce coming to terms with working on a slightly reduced budget in order to meet Financial Fair Play regulations.
Sam Johnstone celebrates
One area that he will have to address is in goal, as Pierluigi Gollini still has a year to run on his loan deal with Atalanta, and Sam Johnstone has returned to Manchester United after his short loan spell with the club.
Bruce does have Mark Bunn and Jed Steer at his disposal, but a new goalkeeper has to be a priority – and it could yet be the keeper that finished last season between the sticks at Villa Park.
The Daily Mail report that Villa are stepping up their interest in re-signing Johnstone, having impressed during his loan spell last season after an initially shaky start to life under Bruce.
However, it’s noted that Villa want him on loan, whereas Premier League clubs Huddersfield Town, Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion may all be keen to purchase him from United, with Middlesbrough also interested.
Sam Johnstone in action for Aston Villa
Johnstone, 23, has spent his entire career on the books at United but has yet to even make his Red Devils debut, and after a series of loan spells away from Old Trafford, it may be time for him to move on permanently.
Villa may not be able to afford to compete with those Premier League clubs, but a representative of Johnstone was quoted as saying; “Sam has a number of options and is considering them all at this moment in time.”
That could give Villa hope of doing a deal, but if United get a firm cash offer for their young goalkeeper, then they may be inclined to choose that over loaning him out yet again.
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