The role Man United want Sam Johnstone to play if they seal Wolves transfer | OneFootball

Manchester United are reportedly keen on signing Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Sam Johnstone this summer

Wolverhampton Wanderers were quick to seal some important transfer business before the summer window officially opened, but since the window has opened, it's all been relatively quiet at Molineux.

Relegation from the Premier League last season means Wolves will be playing Championship football for the first time in eight years next campaign, as the Old Gold will no doubt have their eyes set on an immediate return to the top flight.

The Black Country outfit made the controversial decision to dismiss Welsh head coach Rob Edwards from his role at the helm and replace him with Cesar Peixoto in the middle of June, with the Portuguese boss arriving as a relative unknown.

However, who isn't unknown is experienced Mexican striker Raul Jimenez, who has agreed a deal to return to Wolves after three years, and will be joined by the equally experienced former England international Kieran Trippier at the club.

Both will add some much-needed experience and quality to the Wolves squad, as the Old Gold could well see some experience leave the club this summer with Manchester United lurking.

Manchester United are interested in re-signing Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone

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The goalkeeping position at Wolves as of late is one that has never truly been nailed down.

Each of Jose Sa, Daniel Bentley, and Sam Johnstone have all jostled for a place between the sticks for Wolves, with none of them able to really make that place their own.

Heading into next season, whether either Sa, Bentley, or Johnstone will be made Peixoto's number one option remains to be seen, though it is looking increasingly unlikely to be the latter.

According to talkSPORT, Manchester United are interested in signing Johnstone this summer to make him one of their backup options, a similar trend to which the likes of Lee Grant, Jack Butland, and Tom Heaton have followed over the years.

Johnstone, 33, joined Wolves in a £10 million deal from Crystal Palace just two years ago to provide competition between the sticks at Molineux, and has managed just 19 league appearances for the club since his arrival, exactly a quarter of the games he was available for.

Indeed, injury towards the end of the most recent campaign didn't help his case, though by that point, he had spent the last 14 games on the bench.

With two years remaining on his deal and Wolves having paid £10 million for his services just two years ago, the Old Gold will want to recoup as much of the fee they paid for him as possible.

Johnstone would help United's homegrown quota needs, having come through the club's youth system before spells with the likes of Preston North End, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace, and, most recently, Wolves followed.

With Senne Lammens nailed on as Michael Carrick's number one at Old Trafford, but Andre Onana heading back to Trabzonspor on loan, a new solid backup option at the Red Devils is needed, and with Johnstone also helping with registration needs, their interest in the 33-year-old makes sense.

Whether Wolves are willing to part ways, and if so, how much for, remains to be seen, but this is a saga that will likely rumble on over the coming weeks.

Cesar Peixoto has an important decision to make on Sam Johnstone's future at Wolves

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Heading into next season, Peixoto will already be drawing up plans for what his side may look like, and the players he can envisage sticking around in the second tier.

Whether Johnstone will be one of those remains to be seen, as whoever he decides will be his number one next year, he must be utterly convinced that it is the correct choice.

With United's interest, a deal for Johnstone may be too good to turn down for Peixoto, and the decision will be made for him.

However, as things stand, Johnstone is still a Wolves player, and though United's interest is rife, he could well be the club's first-choice shot-stopper next season.