Southampton are reportedly plotting a move for West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone ahead of the January transfer window next year. This is according to the report from English publication The Express and Star which stated that the Saints want to steal a march on other interested teams such as the London duo of West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur in the quest to sign the Baggies shot stopper.
Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are waiting patiently to snap up ex-Manchester United shot stopper Johnstone on a free transfer when his West Brom contract ends next summer. However, Southampton are prepared to offer West Brom a fee for his transfer at the start of next year when the England international will have some months to run on his existing deal at the Hawthorns.
West Ham tried and failed to sign Johnstone who was the standout player for West Brom on the way to suffering relegation from the Premier League last season. Various reports stated that the Hammers offered around £10m for Johnstone in the summer but West Brom wanted more money. In the end, West Ham opted to sign Frenchman Alphonse Areola on loan from Ligue 1 side Paris Saint Germain (PSG) for the whole of this season in place of Johnstone.
It has been revealed that the Hammers are preparing to sign Johnstone as a free agent next summer with Areola expected to return to his parent club at the end of his loan deal at the East London club.
Johnstone was in the England squad when West Bromsuffered relegation last season and he has been able to retain his place in the team despite playing in the Championship. He was in the England goal during the recent World Cup 2022 qualifier at the home of lowly Andorra which ended in a 5-0 win for the Three Lions.