Report: Cardiff City ready to nab Sam Johnstone from Aston Villa's clutches
HITC
Sunday 20th May 2018
Aston Villa need Premier League football to keep Sam Johnstone, but Championship rivals Cardiff City are reportedly interested in making a move for the shot-stopper.
Sam Johnstone of Aston Villa celebrates during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Villa Park on March 10, 2018 in Birmingham, England.
There is a lot riding on next Saturday’s Championship play-off final.
Defeat to Fulham at Wembley will not only deny Aston Villa a route back into the Premier League – it could also kill off their hopes of signing Sam Johnstone on a permanent basis from Manchester United.
Because The Sun (20th May, page 67) is reporting that Cardiff City, who finished second in the Championship and went up automatically, are big fans of the 25-year-old goalkeeper and are hoping to sign him this summer either on loan or permanently.
John Terry of Aston Villa and Sam Johnstone of Aston Villa celebrate victory together after the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Reading at Villa Park on April 3, 2018 in...
Cardiff obviously have the added advantage in that they are a Premier League team now and could entice Johnstone to South Wales by offering him the chance to play top flight football for the first time in his career.
Johnstone has been on loan at Aston Villa since January 2017 and has shone under Steve Bruce, who has made no secret of the fact he would love to keep the Manchester United prospect in the Midlands on a full-time basis. But Aston Villa’s hopes seem to rest entirely on promotion.
Benik Afobe of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sam Johnstone of Aston Villa in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Villa Park on...
The Mail reports that Manchester United would want £5 million for the shot-stopper, who hasn’t even made his debut for the Old Trafford club. Thanks to Financial Fair Play restrictions, however, Aston Villa would be unlikely to afford that fee if they are still a Championship team next season. So another year without Premier League football might just see Johnstone up sticks with Cardiff.
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