---
title: "Kevin Phillips tips Sam Johnstone to take West Ham number one spot"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/05/08/kevin-phillips-tips-sam-johnstone-to-take-west-ham-number-one-spot/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-05-08T16:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-05-08T16:00:00Z"
---

# Kevin Phillips tips Sam Johnstone to take West Ham number one spot

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/05/08/virals-west-ham-keen-on-stoke-city-defender-harry-souttar/) have been tipped to sign West Brom goalkeeper [Sam Johnstone](https://readwestham.com/2021/05/04/virals-west-ham-are-the-preferred-destination-for-sam-johnstone/) by former Premier League hotshot Kevin Phillips.

This follows a recent report from [ESPN](https://www.espn.in/football/soccer-transfers/story/4377119/man-united-eye-west-broms-johnstone-as-de-gea-replacement-sources) claiming the east Londoners are getting set to compete with Manchester United and Tottenham for the [England youth international’s](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sam-johnstone/nationalmannschaft/spieler/110864/verein_id/3299) signature.

Lukasz Fabianski currently holds the number one shirt at the London Stadium and has [continued to impress](https://www.sofascore.com/player/lukasz-fabianski/15479) for the Hammers despite his advancing years.

However, Phillips, a former Sunderland striker, has told [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/west-ham-told-to-sign-johnstone-after-key-espn-update-phillips/) that David Moyes would be right to sign the Baggies’ 28-year-old this summer and oust the 36-year-old Polish ace.

> Fabianski has been a fantastic goalkeeper but next season West Ham need to get a younger player in. It would be a great move for Johnstone, a good move for the club. It’s a natural transition to bring a younger player in. Someone you know can perform in the Premier League going to a club that is moving in the right direction.

This season Johnstone has been a near[ever-present](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sam-johnstone/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/110864/saison/2020/wettbewerb/GB1/verein/984) in a losing cause, for the most part, averaging [7.08 with Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/player/sam-johnstone/98427) across 33 Premier League outings.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

The goalkeeper department could be one of the positions Moyes looks to strengthen this summer.

Whilst Fabianski has more than earned a [recent contract extension](https://theathletic.com/news/west-ham-lukasz-fabianski-contract/rZnnn1kbxgHV#:~:text=Lukasz%20Fabianski%20extends%20West%20Ham%20deal%20until%202022&text=West%20Ham%20United%20goalkeeper%20Lukasz,Stadium%20for%20a%20fourth%20season.) and should remain part of the first-team plans, recent injuries and adding years mean sooner rather than later West Ham will need an alternative.

Current understudies [Darren Randolph and David Martin](https://www.whufc.com/teams/first-team/squad) have both proven their worth at [various moments](https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/west-ham-david-martin-chelsea-17344031), however, asking either to be the first choice in a side hoping to maintain a place in the [upper echelons](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) could be a stretch.

Valued at £5.4million ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sam-johnstone/marktwertverlauf/spieler/110864#:~:text=as%20%22Goalkeeper%22.-,With%20a%20market%20value%20of%20%C2%A35.40m%2C%20Sam%20Johnstone,among%20all%20players%20born%201993.)), realistically the Irons could sanction a move for Johnstone without affecting other much-needed business across the squad.