Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to step up their interest in landing West Bromwich Albion shot-stopper, Sam Johnstone.
According to Football Insider, North London giants Tottenham Hotspur remain keen on securing the services of West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper and former Manchester United academy ace Sam Johnstone in the upcoming 2022 summer transfer window.
The 29-year-old has established himself as the first-choice shot-stopper at the Hawthorns and is amongst the best goalkeepers in the Championship. He has made 164 appearances for the Baggies, keeping 44 clean sheets.
Tottenham skipper Hugo Lloris has been the mainstay in goal for the club since joining them in 2012. However, he is not getting any younger and, at 35, is entering the twilight of his career. Despite recently tying Lloris to an extension until 2024, Spurs appear keen to bring in another goalkeeper who could potentially be handed the torch.
Last summer, Tottenham signed Pierluigi Gollini from Atalanta on loan, but the Italian has struggled to make the most of his limited opportunities. As things stand, the North Londoners have no intention of making his stay permanent and are exploring other options.
Johnstone is not just an established goalkeeper with Premier League experience but will also be a free agent this summer. Landing him would certainly be a coup of sorts for Antonio Conte, handing him a reliable second-choice goalkeeper.
At 29, Johnstone is in the prime of his career and has also seen himself get called up to the English national side multiple times. The former Manchester United academy ace’s performances have earned him admiring glances from not just several Premier League clubs but also Scottish Premier League champions, Rangers.
A former Manchester United youth product, Johnstone never made the cut at Old Trafford. However, joining West Brom has borne fruit, and he is a player in demand today. As an impending free agent, he holds the aces this summer when it comes to negotiations, and it will be interesting to see where he ultimately ends up.
While moving to Tottenham is certainly a step up, Lloris remains the undisputed first choice at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Moving to North London will probably result in the 29-year-old Englishman serve as an understudy before potentially taking the reins from Lloris.
However, having made a name for himself and with the 2022 FIFA World Cup coming up, it will serve Johnstone poorly to settle for a role on the bench for the 2022/23 campaign. Unless Tottenham can guarantee him a starting berth, he is better off moving to a club that offers him guaranteed playtime.
