Crystal Palace 'in talks' for former £10m West Ham and Spurs transfer target Sam Johnstone

Crystal Palace are closing in on a deal to make goalkeeper Sam Johnstone their first signing of the summer transfer window.

The 29-year-old is a free agent at the end of June after being put on West Bromwich Albion’s list of released players, with the Eagles keen to bring the England international to Selhurst Park as a potential long-term successor to Vicente Guaita. According to the Athletic, Johnstone is discussing a five-year contract with Palace which would keep him at the club until 2027.

This would be the third permanent club of his career, having started out at Manchester United before making several loans designed to give him first-team experience. He eventually signed for West Brom for £6.5million in 2018, going on to make 167 appearances for the Baggies and winning the club’s players’ player of the year award in 2021.

Shortly after that, he was the subject of a bid from West Ham who were reportedly willing to spend around £10million to acquire his services. The Baggies rejected the approach despite knowing they risked losing Johnstone on a free at the end of the season when his contract ran out, with Palace now hoping to benefit from the situation. Johnstone had also been considered by Tottenham, but Antonio Conte's side now look set to secure a deal for Southampton keeper Fraser Forster, who is also available for a free transfer.

Johnstone made his first senior England appearance while at West Brom, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Romania before being named in the 26-man squad for EURO 2020. His most recent appearance for his country was in a World Cup qualifying win over Andorra last October.

The move would cast doubt on Jack Butland ’s future in south London, with the shot-stopper effectively