Aston Villa are desperate to sign Sam Johnstone from Manchester United on a permanent basis – but United know that all too well.
Steve Bruce left Aston Villa fans in no uncertain terms where he stands on the future of on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
The manager stated, in quotes reported by the Express and Star, that the Championship side will do ‘everything in our power to get him here permanently’. Johnstone spent the second half of last season on loan at Villa and extended his deal until the end of the 2017/18 season, by which point his contract at United is due to expire.
And ClubCall reports that Johnstone himself, who has not played a single senior game for Jose Mourinho’s side, is keen to finally settle down in the Midlands after ten different loan spells away from Old Trafford since 2011.
ClubCall, however, adds that Manchester United included a renewal clause in the academy graduate’s contract in order to ensure that they will not lose the 24-year-old on a free.
As such, United could trigger an extension in Johnstone’s deal, meaning Villa will have to pay a transfer fee to tie the former England Under-20 ‘keeper down.
The report adds that United are aware that there is interest from Villa as well as a number of other clubs and so hope to squeeze about £5 million out of the Championship side – who have rather shown their hand by admitting they are desperate to land Johnstone permanently.
Whether Villa can afford to part with £5 million remains to be seen. Thanks to Financial Fair Play restrictions, Villa spent around just £2.5 million in the summer transfer window after all.
Bruce’s desire to keep Johnstone at the club, then, may be about to suffer a few complications.
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