Sam Johnstone may have opened door for West Ham; Moyes linked with £4m swoop

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Manchester United’s Sam Johnstone is reportedly looking to leave.

Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has told The Guardian that he can’t wait around at Old Trafford forever, suggesting he will be on the move this summer.

Johnstone, 25, came up through the ranks with United, but has still yet to make a first-team appearance for the Red Devils having had his path blocked so far.

David de Gea has been United’s first choice for many years now, and has established himself as one of the world’s top goalkeepers, making it difficult for Johnstone to feature regularly.

That has resulted in Johnstone heading out on loan 10 times now, having had two spells with current club Aston Villa and two spells with hometown club Preston North End, as well as stints with Oldham Athletic, Scunthorpe United, Walsall, Yeovil Town and Doncaster Rovers.

Johnstone has excelled in his two spells with Villa, serving as Steve Bruce’s first-choice between the sticks at Villa Park, with many calling for him to be signed permanently.

That could be a possibility if Villa win promotion to the Premier League, and Johnstone has told The Guardian that he can’t wait around forever at Old Trafford, and may pursue first-team football elsewhere just as Michael Keane did with his move to Burnley.

“If you leave, then the one downside is that you haven’t done that [played for United] despite being there since you were 10,” said Johnstone. “I’d have liked to have done it. But you’ve got the world’s best goalkeeper, David de Gea, at the club and you can’t wait around forever. You realise you might have to take the example of someone like Michael Keane, who went to Burnley and has gone from strength to strength [with Everton and England],” he added.

That could be music to the ears of David Moyes, given that The Mirror report that the West Ham boss is lining up a £4million swoop for the United goalkeeper as he looks to replace Joe Hart and Adrian.

Johnstone is at the perfect age to be playing and developing, and having impressed in the Championship, a Premier League move is the next step. West Ham could subsequently land a bargain in Johnstone, and the player’s comments may now hand the Hammers the initiative to go and pursue a summer deal.