Arsenal have reportedly submitted an enquiry for Sam Johnstone, with local rivals Tottenham also tracking the former Manchester United ace.
According to a report by The Athletic, the race to sign Sam Johnstone from West Bromwich Albion in the summer transfer window is heating up. The former Manchester United goalkeeper is wanted by Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham United, with the Gunners making an approach for him while the Hammers have had a bid rejected for him.
Sam Johnstone has created quite a career for himself since leaving Manchester United to join West Bromwich Albion in the summer of 2018. While at Manchester United, the 28-year-old goalkeeping ace was sent out on as many as ten loan spells away from Old Trafford. The move to West Brom, though, has paid off handsomely.
This was best evident this past season, wherein Johnstone was a rare bright spot for a dire Baggies outfit that was relegated from the Premier League. The English international, though, has made enough of an impression in his 131 appearances for West Brom to spark a London battle for his services this summer, with Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham United hot on his trails.
Arsenal are in the market for a replacement for Mat Ryan, who chose to join Real Sociedad instead of the Gunners this summer. That has left Mikel Arteta with Bernd Leno and the unreliable Runar Alex Runarsson at his disposal, thereby warranting the addition of a goalkeeper. To that end, Sam Johnstone is one of the goalkeepers on Arsenal’s radar this summer.
As for Tottenham, with Joe Hart approaching the end of his career and Hugo Lloris also in his thirties, it is prudent to keep an eye on a goalkeeper who is in the peak years of his career. With that in mind, Spurs’ interest in Johnstone makes sense, with Pierluigi Gollini another goalkeeper they have their sights set on.
Meanwhile, West Ham are also keen on signing Johnstone and have had a bid rejected by West Brom for the 28-year-old, although they are being tipped to sign Alphonse Areola. Amid all this, Arsenal have stepped up their efforts to sign Johnstone, having submitted an enquiry for the former Manchester United goalkeeper.
What now remains to be seen is if Arsenal firm up their interest in Johnstone further by lodging a bid for him. At the same time, it will also be interesting to see if Tottenham make their move for the ex-Manchester United shot stopper, who appears set to leave West Brom this summer.
