Wolves braced for Everton transfer approach - on one condition | OneFootball

Sam Johnstone could be heading to Everton, who are seeking a replacement for the linked-away Mark Travers

Wolverhampton Wanderers could be set to lose Sam Johnstone to Everton, but only if the Toffees can find someone who'll meet the wage requirements of their current number two goalkeeper.

Relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2025-26 season has meant a lot of changes for Wolverhampton Wanderers already this summer. Star names such as Raul Jimenez and Kieran Trippier have already arrived at Molineux, as the Black Country plot a quick return to the top-flight.

But relegation also brings departures. The club have already lost Joao Gomes to Aston Villa for £38 million, and they could now be set to lose their experienced back-up goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who's being linked with a return to the Premier League this summer.

This move, however, comes with moving parts, since it's dependent on the Premier League club involved being able to move their own second choice goalkeeper on this summer, a matter which may be slightly complicated by his own wage requirements.

Everton poised to move for Sam Johnstone if Mark Travers departs Toffees

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Via his Patreon account, journalist Alan Nixon confirms that Everton could be set to make a move for the Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

But there is a significant catch to this. Everton are only prepared to let their current number Mark Travers leave the club to get more first-team football, but Travers' wages may be an issue.

The goalkeeper has been reported to be on around £30,000-a-week and, having only signed for the club last year, still has three years to run on his current contract.

Although the goalkeeper is keen to get more first-team football, it remains to be seen whether Everton will be able to find anybody who will meet those demands. There have been suggestions that Middlesbrough could make a move for the Republic of Ireland international.

Whoever does end up at Everton next season will not be likely to get much first-team football themselves. The Toffees' first-choice goalkeeper is England's number one Jordan Pickford, and dislodging him from the first-team position in goal for them will be extremely difficult indeed.

What fans have been saying about Sam Johnstone this summer

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Having undergone shoulder surgery at the end of last season and with reports that Manchester United were considering him as back-up for Senne Lemmens at Old Trafford for next season, it's been a busy summer for Sam Johnstone, so here's a selection of what's been said about the goalkeeper.

This Manchester United fan would still like his club to make a late move for him in this summer's transfer window.

This Wolves fan, however, was less than complimentary about him when the club released their goalkeepers' kit for the 2026-27 season.

And this Wolves fan is unhappy with Johnstone's injury record at Molineux since he joined the club two years ago, and holds sthe club's goalkeeper coaching staff responsible.

Manchester United ended up signing Karl Darlow rather than Sam Johnstone, and this United fan did not believe that their club had made the right decision.

Sam Johnstone's experience makes him a tempting back-up option for Everton

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Bedevilled by injury and with his team succumbing to relegation at the end of 2025-26, the last two seasons have not been especially happy for Sam Johnstone. The goalkeeper has only made 27 appearances for Wolves over the duration of his stay with the club, and has kept just three clean sheets.

Now 33 years of age, a return to Old Trafford, where he started his career, did not materialise, and the situation regarding Mark Travers' wages means that a move to the Hill-Dickinson Stadium also hangs in the balance.

But there does remain a possibility that the move could happen. Travers has been of interest to Middlesbrough, who only narrowly missed out on promotion themselves last season, and he could be the stoppre that arrives on Teesside to usurp Sol Brynn from in-between the sticks. At 27 years of age, he's approaching the prime years of his career and could be a tempting option for Boro.