Steve Bruce is hoping to persuade Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone to join Aston Villa on a permanent deal this summer following a successful loan spell at Villa Park last season, according to the Express and Star.
Bruce is hoping that the prospect of being the guaranteed number one will persuade Johnstone to join Villa this summer ahead of the other clubs who are also targeting the player.
Manchester United are willing to let Johnstone leave the club on a permanent deal this summer if they receive a bid in excess of £5million.
Villa are just one of many clubs chasing the 24-year-old’s signature and Bruce is hoping that a breakthrough in the deal for Johnstone will be made over the coming days, with the team expected to return for pre-season training at the end of this week.
Despite making a few costly errors during his time at Villa Park last season, Johnstone made 24 appearances for the club and successfully kept seven clean sheets in eight games.
Johnstone is one of Bruce’s top transfer targets this summer with Watford, Sunderland and Leeds are also reportedly chasing the player.
