It looks a matter of when, not if, Sam Johnstone departs West Bromwich Albion this summer.
The goalkeeper is one of a raft of high earners at the Hawthorns who the club expect to depart before the closure of the transfer window.
Johnstone, 28, put in a series of accomplished displays last season despite the Baggies failing to hang on to their Premier League status. They begin the new Championship season in just over a fortnight.
His form earned him a call-up to the England team and he was part of the 26-man squad that reached the Euro 2020 final, albeit his was a watching brief from the bench.
Now, his club future is up in the air as Albion look to clinch a suitable fee for a player they signed for £6.5m in 2018.
New West Brom boss Valerien Ismael appears resigned to losing assets such as Matheus Pereira and Johnstone.
He recently admitted: “It’s not a secret that Sam and Matheus can maybe leave the club. It’s my expectation that they (will) leave."
The bidding war is now expected to ramp up and earlier this week Sky Sports reported that West Ham lodged a £6m bid for Johnstone.
Albion are said to have rejected the offer and want a significant deal more than that.
Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell believes his old club could easily gazump their London rivals and pounce for Johnstone - someone who Mikel Arteta admires as he looks to beef up his goalkeeping department.
Campbell told Football Insider : “The £6m bid is some serious lowballing from West Ham. They are testing the water to see if West Brom are desperate.
“You keep the £6million West Ham. Arsenal will come in with £10million, no messing around.
“West Brom want to move and shake so their new manager can do some more business.
"As a football club you want to move a few of the big-earners on and I think Johnstone will be towards the top end.
"I’d have been surprised if anyone got Johnstone for as little as £6million - that is very low for a player of his ability.”
Another London club, Tottenham, are also said to be keeping an eye on Johnstone.
His England colleague Aaron Ramsdale is in a similar boat at Sheffield United. He is also being targeted for a quickfire return to the top flight, but would be reticent to merely act as a number two.
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