Leeds among clubs eyeing Manchester United 24-year-old – report
By Harvey Byrne
Leeds are among a number of clubs eyeing Manchester United shot-stopper Sam Johnstone, according to a report.
The Daily Mail have claimed on their transfer blog (1.19pm) that the Yorkshire giants, Aston Villa, Watford, Leicester and Bristol City have all shown an interest in the 24-year-old, while Sunderland are viewing him as a replacement for Jordan Pickford.
It is detailed that Johnstone has also been told that he can leave the Premier League giants this summer and that Manchester United are looking at around £5million for him.
The former England Under-20 international has never played for the Old Trafford club with his career so far seeing nine loan moves to various Football League clubs.
He himself will now be keen to move somewhere permanently, as Manchester United are well covered in the goalkeeper area with David De Gea.
Johnstone’s most recent loan move was spent with Leeds’ Championship rivals Aston Villa in the second half of the last campaign, where he impressed keeping eight clean sheets while conceding just 24 times in 21 appearances in the second tier.
Leeds, meanwhile have veteran Rob Green between the sticks and the club maybe looking for someone younger to make their new number one.
Football Insider verdict:
The goalkeeper position isn’t necessarily a main point that Leeds have to strengthen this summer given the impressive performances of Green in the last campaign. Additionally, £5million is a very large amount of money for a club in the Championship and despite their interest Leeds may stay clear of this one. The Yorkshire giants are more likely to be focusing on a new manager at this moment in time and then they will start drafting their targets for this summer window.
In other Leeds transfer news, this Premier League side have joined the Yorkshire giants in race for goalscoring midfielder.
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