Championship club West Brom have confirmed West Ham transfer target Sam Johnstone has been released as a free agent.
West Ham have long been linked with a move for the England goalkeeper (Sky Sports).
Speculation was rife last summer that West Ham were close to signing Johnstone in a £10m deal from the Baggies.
Areola has impressed on loan from PSG but his future remains unclear.
West Ham have also been linked with relegated Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope (The Sun).
Links to Johnstone and Pope tally with a recent claim from West Ham legend Tony Cottee who reportedly let slip to a betting website that Hammers boss Moyes has done a deal to sign an English goalkeeper that will be announced soon (West Ham Zone).
Areola’s big wages are said to be a potential problem for West Ham while Burnley reportedly value Pope at a whopping £40m!
So there may yet be a twist after Johnstone’s club confirmed the West Ham transfer target has been released as free agent.
“167 appearances, 44 clean sheets,” West Brom posted on Twitter about Johnstone leaving the club following the expiration of his contract.
“Thank you for your efforts during your time at The Hawthorns, Sam Johnstone.”
Moyes is facing a big rebuild at West Ham this summer with at least six or seven players required.
So saving money by bringing in Johnstone may well be tempting for the Scot.
It remains to be seen whether Johnstone comes back into Moyes’s thinking.