United are preparing to hike up price for Villa target

THE asking price for Sam stone is about to go up. Aston Villa have made the permanent signing of Johnstone a priority after being impressed with how the goalkeeper has settled in at the club.

Johnstone initially joined on loan in January and after a shaky start quickly established himself as Villa’s No.1 ahead of Mark Bunn and Jed Steer.

Manager Steve Bruce was so pleased with the impact Johnstone made that he instructed chief UK scout Tony Coton and goalkeeping coach Gary Walsh to bring the shot-stopper back on a season-long loan for the current campaign.

Villa would love to have him on a permanent, rather than a temporary, basis. The only problem is, he’s Manchester United’s.

And the Old Trafford mugs. giants John- are no

Although Johnstone has as much chance of getting past David De Gea as an Arsenal shot, United want to protect their asset by extending the former Preston keeper’s contract.

Aware of the strong interest in buying Johnstone, not just from Villa, but from other Premier League and Championship suitors, the Red Devils are ready to take up an option on the 24-year-old’s deal.

Less with the intention of having him for themselves and more with the intention of demanding a fee when he does inevitably depart.

So rather than Johnstone being available on a free next summer, whoever wants him will have to pay the going rate.

It is a tactic United bosses have also used to prevent Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Ashley Young leaving for nothing.

It has become a Catch 22 for Villa. They are the ones who have given Johnstone the platform to prove and increase his worth, yet they are the ones who could end up paying the price.

Having said that, if Bruce’s men achieve their ultimate aim of winning promotion to the Premier League this season then it shouldn’t be a problem.

By helping Villa win promotion, Johnstone would be ensuring they have ample cash to afford him.

Ideally, Bruce and the club’s powerbrokers would like to strike a deal for Johnstone sooner, and would love to have him signed and sealed during January.

The indications are that Johnstone loves it at Villa – a fact evidenced by his consistent contributions to their defensive meanness – and if Villa do have to wait until next summer to do a deal, they would still be at the front of the queue as far as the player is concerned.

Hopefully, that is the case, and that where this deal is concerned, Villa, Johnstone and United are in safe hands, even after the inevitable price hike.