---
title: "Virals: West Ham target Sam Johnstone ‘expected’ to leave this summer"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/07/06/virals-west-ham-target-sam-johnstone-expected-to-leave-this-summer/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-07-06T06:30:00Z"
modified: "2021-07-06T06:30:00Z"
---

# Virals: West Ham target Sam Johnstone ‘expected’ to leave this summer

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/07/05/virals-west-ham-make-contact-over-haris-seferovic-transfer/) may have been handed a boost in the pursuit of heavily linked West Brom goalkeeper [Sam Johnstone](https://readwestham.com/2021/06/02/paul-robinson-urges-west-ham-to-sign-sam-johnstone/).

The Hammers have [reportedly](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/2021/06/02/west-brom-ready-for-sam-johnstone-bids/) been considering a bid for the 28-year-old stopper after the Baggies were relegated from the Premier League last term.

Johnstone was a beacon of hope in an otherwise [dismal season](https://www.premierleague.com/tables?co=1&se=363&ha=-1) for the Midlands club and has been tipped to remain in the top-flight.

As quoted by [The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/sam-johnstone-england-premier-league-arsenal-west-ham-b1878468.html) and cited by [Football League Zone](https://twitter.com/TheFLZone/status/1412085406124892162), the new manager at The Hawthorns, Valerien Ismael, has suggested that the stopper is unlikely to remain beyond the window.

> Twitter: ![🗣️](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.0.1/svg/1f5e3.svg) West Brom boss Valerien Ismael…
>
> “It’s not a secret that Sam Johnstone and Matheus Pereira can maybe leave the… https://t.co/yaMix6plPQ (@TheFLZone)

Currently away with the [England squad](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/teams/39--england/squad/) at Euro 2020, it’s unlikely any move for Johnstone would be completed prior to the Three Lions’ involvement in the tournament.

Hailed as ‘sensational’ by Gary Lineker on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1360980792734846984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1360980792734846984%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-2774708411631265782.ampproject.net%2F2106182132000%2Fframe.html) after yet another fine display, during 2020/21 the ace earned an average [Sofascore rating of 7.03](https://www.sofascore.com/player/sam-johnstone/98427) across 37 Premier League outings.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Capped just [once at senior level](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sam-johnstone/marktwertverlauf/spieler/110864) by England, Johnstone has been somewhat of a late bloomer at the elite level.

After coming through the ranks at Manchester United, the Preston-born star has [spent time on loan](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sam-johnstone/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/110864) at Aston Villa, Doncaster and Scunthorpe before arriving at West Brom.

Value at £7.2million and into the final 12 months of a contract ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sam-johnstone/marktwertverlauf/spieler/110864)), if reports are to be beleived, David Moyes will be confident of landing fierce competition for Lukasz Fabianski at a bargain price.