‘Medical booked’ – West Brom set to finalise £3m transfer in blow to Burnley and Sheffield United
West Brom are closing in on the permanent acquisition of Celtic star Mikey Johnston, several months after the winger concluded a successful loan spell at The Hawthorns.
It’s understood the Baggies saw a £3 million bid accepted for Johnston on Tuesday but were anxiously awaiting news with Burnley and Sheffield United also seeing proposals given the green light.
Now, though, it can be revealed that Johnston has snubbed the Clarets and the Blades in favour of a return to West Brom. A medical has already been booked for today in order to seal the deal before Friday’s transfer deadline, a huge boost for Albion.
Johnston travelled to the West Midlands on Wednesday night after making his decision and will finalise the formalities. Barring any dramatic late swoops from elsewhere, the Baggies will be officially reunited with the winger.
A Republic of Ireland international with 11 caps, Johnston was a mightily popular figure at The Hawthorns earlier in the year as he spent the second half of last season on loan. The 25-year-old, heading into his prime, scored seven goals and made one assist in 18 Championship appearances.
Johnston successfully progressed through the academy at Celtic but failed to ever become a regular starter, with his most Scottish Premiership game time in a single campaign totalling merely 524 minutes. The attacker endured a near five-year period without feeling like an important player.
That was, until, a loan move to Liga Portugal outfit Vitória Guimarães SC was sanctioned for the 2022/23 term. Johnston made 25 league appearances, contributing one goal and four assists. The Irishman then had another half a campaign at Celtic before his West Brom loan.
If signed, Johnston will become Carlos Corberan’s 10th summer addition after Callum Styles, Uroš Račić, Gianluca Frabotta, Torbjørn Heggem, Devante Cole, Paddy McNair, Joe Wildsmith, Lewis Dobbin and Ousmane Diakité.
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