Report: Southampton looking to jump ahead of Spurs in race for star player

Southampton are looking to move ahead of Tottenham and West Ham in the race for West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, according to the Express & Star.

The 28-year-old’s performances on the domestic and international stage interested a host of suitors over the summer, and now into the winter transfer window. 

Johnstone’s contract with the Baggies is set to expire at the end of June, which has left West Brom sweating over potentially losing him for free instead of their reported £20 million valuation. 

Spurs reportedly sent scouts to monitor Johnstone in action for West Brom last month, with number one stopper Hugo Lloris also set to be out of contract at the club in the summer. 

However, Johnstone remained in the Midlands during the summer window, with West Ham even having a £6 million bid for the goalkeeper rejected by the Championship side. 

Now, a report from the Express & Star has revealed that Southampton are looking to ‘jump ahead of the queue’, and are weighing up a bid for Johnstone in January. 

The publication claims the Saints see the West Brom man as the ideal candidate to offer direct competition to current number one Alex McCarthy on the South Coast. 

However, the report adds that Spurs and West Ham are both remaining patient regarding Johnstone’s situation and are happy to consider a move towards the end of the season. 

Spurs Web Opinion 

There appears to be a lot of interest in West Brom’s Johnstone, which isn’t surprising considering he is a number one goalkeeper and approaching the end of his contract.

Spurs are likely going to weigh up their options regarding Lloris, who isn’t showing signs of slowing down in goal despite his age. 

Keep up to date with all the latest Tottenham news and opinion by following SpursWeb’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Related Topics

Have something to tell us about this article? Let us know