Burnley and Sheffield United in transfer battle for Celtic winger | OneFootball

Mikey Johnston spent the latter half of last season on loan at West Bromwich Albion, helping them to the play-offs.

Burnley and Sheffield United are battling it out for the signature of Celtic winger Mikey Johnston, with the Scottish giants open to selling him.

That's according to Alan Nixon via Patreon, who has said that Burnley are yet to submit an offer for the 25-year-old.

It emerged yesterday that the Blades were interested in Johnston, with reports from Football Insider stating that Chris Wilder's side are working on a deal to bring the winger to Bramall Lane before the August 30 deadline.

The Republic of Ireland international spent the second half of last season on loan at Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion, scoring seven goals and picking up one assist in 18 league games, helping the Baggies to the play-off places.

Johnston can provide goals from the wings and cover

In what has been an interesting summer for both sides, they are now looking for late moves to replace key players that have either left the club, or will in the coming days.

In the last week, the Clarets have had Wilson Odobert pinched from them by Tottenham Hotspur, while Anass Zaroury, Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Sander Berge all look likely to leave Turf Moor.

The sale of Zaroury will be particularly pertinent to the potential incoming of Johnston, with it potentially being a like-for-like replacement in terms of goal output in the Championship.

The 23-year-old scored six goals in what looks to be his only season with Burnley in the Championship, and although a loan to Hull City last year did not pay off, the addition of Johnston will cover him.

Sheffield United, on the other hand, have brought in five players so far in August, and will be looking to make it double-winger delight after completing a deal to bring Jesurun Rak-Sakyi in on loan from Crystal Palace.

Johnston will be able to link up well with the young Palace winger, and create a solid foundation for the Blades to work from out wide.

Despite his lack of gametime in Scotland, the 25-year-old's loan last season will give both Scott Parker and Wilder confidence that he can perform in the Championship, and that it is worth the transfer battle.

Johnston isn't the only winger attracting Burnley and Sheffield United interest

Ironically, the two Championship promotion rivals are also fighting it out for the loan signing of Brighton & Hove Albion's Jeremy Sarmiento.

The 22-year-old spent 2023/24 with both West Brom and Ipswich Town, helping the latter to promotion, and according to Alan Nixon, he could be making his way back to the second tier either on loan or permanently.

The Ecuadorian will cost between £6 million and £7 million if a loan is not wanted, and therefore a move for Johnston may be seen as a more viable deal at this point in the window.

However, with the Blades' new takeover set to be confirmed, and Burnley bringing in a large sum of money, it would not be surprising if deals are made for both players.