Sam Johnstone signs new United deal
Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has signed a new deal that will keep him at Old Trafford until June 2018.
Johnstone, 23, is currently third-choice at the club with David de Gea and Sergio Romero ahead of him in the pecking order and has yet to make his senior debut for the Reds despite representing United at every youth level before being promoted to the first-team in the summer of 2015.
However, Johnstone has enjoyed successful loan spells away from the Theatre of Dreams, most notably at Doncaster Rovers and Preston North End, where he helped the Lilywhites gain promotion to the Championship with a League One play-off final victory against Swindon Town in 2015.
The Preston-born keeper said he was delighted to sign a new contract with United:
I am delighted to have signed a new contract. I have been with the club since I was 10 years old and have grown up here.
The last 13 years have flown by and I have enjoyed every moment of my time here so far. I am working with world-class goalkeepers every day and now I am going to use all that experience to push myself and show the manager what I can do.
Johnstone has been the subject of interest from Championship side Aston Villa recently, as new Villans boss Steve Bruce looks to bolster his backline as the ex-Hull manager and Manchester United player looks to steady the ship at Villa Park.