Crystal Palace could leave Aston Villa in limbo by moving for Johnstone.
Aston Villa’s on-loan goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is a £5 million January target for Crystal Palace, the Sun reports on page 62 of its printed edition on Wednesday.
Johnstone is due to spend the rest of the season at Villa Park, although parent club Manchester United are said to have included a clause in the player’s contract which allows him to be recalled or sold next month.
With West Bromwich Albion also listed as suitors, Aston Vila are seemingly facing a battle to hang on to the 24-year-old.
And that could prove doubly problematic for the Villans, who are close to breaching the Football League’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
Crystal Palace sold Steve Mandanda during the summer transfer window, leaving only Wayne Hennessey and Julian Speroni, 38, as options between the sticks – both of whom are out of contract in June.
Palace were previously linked with a move for Johnstone, who is set to have his United contract extended until 2019, according to the Daily Mail, presumably to ensure they receive the biggest fee possible.
Should Crystal Palace move for the on-loan Aston Villa man?