0.8 conceded per 90: Should Manchester United really sign this EFL player?

West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has been the subject of heavy transfer speculation ever since the Baggies were relegated from the Premier League.

Despite this, the Hawthorns club were able to keep hold of Johnstone last summer, and the 28-year-old has gone on to feature 31 times for the club so far this campaign.

However, Johnson’s contract is due to expire this summer, and according to a report in The Sun, Manchester United have now joined the list of clubs lining up a summer move for the goalkeeper.

The Sun also states that West Ham are the ones leading the race for the Englishman’s free signature, with Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton also interested in making a deal.

With that being said, here, we take a look at some of Sam Johnstone’s numbers this season on WyScout, assessing what he does well, and where he could improve.

First of all, let’s take a look at Sam Johnstone’s expected goals conceded (xGC).

In the Championship this season, Johnstone has underperformed by the smallest of margins when it comes xGC, conceding 0.8 goals per 90, with an xGC per 90 of 0.79. A 0.01 discrepancy.

This is neither good nor bad, but, Manchester United number 1 goalkeeper David de Gea, whom Johnstone would be in competition with at Old Trafford, has overperformed his xGC in the Premier League this season, conceding more goals per 90 at 1.27, but doing so with an xGC of 1.58 per 90.

Sam Johnstone’s save percentage is also lower than that of David de Gea’s at Manchester United.

Johnstone faces 2.5 shots per 90, saving 68 percent of these, whereas de Gea faces 4.67 per 90, saving 72.8% of the shots he faces.

This is only a marginal difference, but again demonstrates the level of competition Johnstone would face at