West Brom sent £7m transfer demand for 'invaluable' star - top-flight clubs are circling | OneFootball

FLW’s West Brom fan pundit has outlined what he would demand for Mikey Johnston after the winger was linked with a move away on deadline day.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

West Brom had a busy end on deadline day of the winter transfer window, with two arrivals and three exits sanctioned.

After previously recruiting goalkeeper Max O’Leary from Bristol City and wing-back Danny Imray from Crystal Palace until the end of the season, Albion also added youth by bringing two teenagers into the building.

The Baggies completed a double raid from the Eagles by securing the services of talented youngster Hindolo Mustapha on a loan deal, while Aston Villa attacker Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba has returned to The Hawthorns on loan from Villa Park.

There were a few outgoings too, with young defender Michael Parker joining Swedish outfit Orgryte IS on a permanent deal, while Samuel Iling-Junior had his loan spell at The Hawthorns cut short, returning to Aston Villa and then immediately being loaned out to Serie A outfit Pisa.

The final outgoing saw third-choice goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith join Middlesbrough on loan for the remainder of the season, with Albion seemingly bringing his West Brom career to an end as his contract runs down this coming summer.

There were also some fears that Mikey Johnston was heading for the departure lounge too, with Sheffield United touted with making a move for the Republic of Ireland international.

But those rumours were swiftly quashed by Sheffield Star journalist Danny Hall, who outlined that they were wide of the mark, although the Blades are believed to be long-term admirers of Johnston when they attempted to lure the 26-year-old to Bramall Lane before he joined Albion permanently last season.

It has also been revealed by Express & Star journalist Lewis Cox that Johnston had firm interest from Turkish giants Trabzonspor in the final hours of the window, but has elected to remain in B71 and help the Baggies in their quest to secure Championship survival.

With this in mind, FLW’s West Brom fan pundit has outlined his thoughts on Johnston remaining at the club and what fee the club should be looking to receive to sanction a future exit.

West Brom advised to demand £7m for Mikey Johnston

Speaking to Football League World, West Brom fan pundit Callum Burgess believes Albion would have had to receive a bid too good to turn down to sell Mikey Johnston on deadline day, and insists the club should be demanding in the region of £7m for his services in the future due to his impressive attacking numbers in a relegation-threatened side.

Callum told FLW: “I think in the final hours of the window yesterday, it would have taken an extortionate fee to get Albion to sell Mikey Johnston.

“When you look through our squad, he’s the only tricky winger we’ve got who can produce something out of nothing as well as being a very good dribbler, and you’d say he would be invaluable until the end of the season at least, where you’d be expecting at least £7 million I’d say.

“It’s two goals and nine assists so far in a struggling team, and we can definitely get a decent return from a promotion-contending side.

“I think he definitely needs to be on his best form for the remainder of the season to ensure that we can get out of the mess we are currently in.”

West Brom still have a chance of Championship survival by retaining Mikey Johnston

If West Brom lost Mikey Johnston in the dying embers of the winter transfer window, they could have waved their hopes of staying in the Championship goodbye.

Johnston has been their main creative outlet and looks the only attacking option capable of producing something out of nothing in the blue and white stripes, with his dribbling, directness and unpredictability making him a menace for opposition defenders this term.

His dip in form has been paralleled with Eric Ramsay’s arrival. The Welsh coach has chopped and changed his position far too many times, with Johnston unable to settle into one specific attacking role and unleash the damage that was previously seen under the tenure of Ryan Mason.

So far, Johnston has been used as a right-wing-back, on both flanks further forward and as a central attacking midfielder, with the change of role and responsibilities game-after-game leading to a deterioration of confidence in his game.

For West Brom to retain their Championship status, Johnston has to be on the top of his game. His best moments under Mason came on the right-wing when he was given the instruction to get chalk on his boots, drive down to the byline and whip wicked deliveries in for the forwards to profit off.

Ramsay must get him back into that role as that is where he is at his devastating best, and you feel any success the Baggies boss can have in the job will be dependent on Johnston’s displays improving.