Manchester United loanee Sam Johnstone should consider which of Aston Villa or Sunderland will give him the better chance of Premier League football.
Sam Johnstone is facing up to a rather unenviable decision this summer. Reared in Manchester United’s academy, it looks increasingly unlikely that the 24-year-old will finally fulfil his dream of making his senior bow for the first-team at Old Trafford, The Sun reports.
After eight different loan spells in six years, Johnstone is no closer to making an impact at his boyhood club and a summer exit now appears the most logical next step in a career that is only now showing signs of taking off.
Moving on loan to Aston Villa in January, Johnstone has overcome an error-strewn start to become Steve Bruce’s primary transfer target. Villa are unbeaten in nine Championship fixtures and the in-form shot-stopper has conceded just twice in a remarkable run.
It’s no wonder then that Bruce is determined to turn Johnstone’s loan into a permanent deal, as reported by Sky Sports.
Though The Sun claim that Sunderland are willing to fight Villa for his signature. The Black Cats have long held quite a connection with Manchester United and Johnstone could become the fifth former Red Devil to move to the Stadium of Light on David Moyes’ watch.
Furthermore, with Jordan Pickford seemingly likely to leave at the end of the season with Sunderland facing up to an inevitable relegation, Johnstone could finally cement his place as an undisputed, long-term number one.
However, if Johnstone wants to play Premier League football sooner rather than later, he should stick rather than twist. Aston Villa have spent over £70 million this season building a squad capable of pushing for promotion after a season of transition and, in Bruce, they have a manager who has escaped from the Championship on four separate occasions.
Sunderland, meanwhile, do not have the funds to rebuild the squad without selling their prized assets. The departures of Jermain Defoe and Pickford would leave gaps impossible to fill. Like Villa, it’s likely that the Black Cats will face a season of consolidation rather than an immediate return.
Johnstone should remember that the grass isn’t always greener elsewhere.
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