Journalist makes prediction on West Brom player’s future

Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone will join a Premier League club this summer as opposed to Scottish Premiership champions Rangers, speaking in an interview with Give Me Sport.

The 29-year-old’s contract at The Hawthorns is set to expire and with no real chance of the shot-stopper signing fresh terms in the West Midlands, he has been left out of the second-tier side’s squad for the remainder of the campaign.

Despite this, he isn’t likely to be short of offers when the summer comes along with English top-tier clubs including Everton, Manchester United, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United all thought to be interested in a move.

However, one side that are hoping to lure him north of the border are Rangers, a potential outsider at this stage with Johnstone reportedly telling friends he wants to join Spurs on the expiration of his contract at Albion.

In north London, he may have to bide his time behind Hugo Lloris in the pecking order and that could potentially harm his chances of being included in England’s 2022 World Cup squad, possibly making Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side a more favourable option for the shot-stopper.

However, O’Rourke still believes a move to the English top flight is the most likely outcome at this stage.

He said to Give Me Sport: “If Rangers were to qualify for the Champions League, that’s something Sam Johnstone might take into consideration, but I do think that he will end up moving to a Premier League club when he leaves West Brom this summer.”

The Verdict:

In fairness to the Gers, Johnstone could boost his chances of being on the plane to Qatar later this year if he joins a high-profile club like van Bronckhorst’s side, with Nick Pope