With Rotherham United’s future as a Championship club hanging by a thread, rumours of a move away from the New York Stadium for their top talents have already begun.
Rotherham’s signing of this lethal striker would go on to be a brilliant move for all involved
One player who is reportedly attracting interest ahead of the summer transfer window is Viktor Johansson. Sheffield United, a team that is expected to move up to the second division in the near future, is reportedly fascinated about the prospect of bringing the Swede to Bramall Lane in the summer.
Over the past two seasons, the 25-year-old custodian has garnered numerous accolades for his professionalism in goal for a struggling Millers team. In the previous season, his efforts helped the team avoid relegation.
In an attempt to entice him away from Yorkshire, other Championship clubs are keeping a close eye on his rumoured seven-figure release clause, so it won’t only be the Blades making an offer over the summer.
Viktor Johansson’s Rotherham United Championship stats
Last season, Johansson was elected Player of the Year for his heroics in goal. He kept the league’s finest attacking players at bay with several stoic performances, helping his team escape relegation by a margin of six points.
Of all the goalkeepers in the league, he had the most saves (157), with only Hull City’s Matt Ingram (75.5%) and Burnley’s Arijanet Muric (76.6%) surpassing his save percentage of 75.4%.
For a team battling to stay in the second division, 13 clean sheets was a respectable performance. In the current campaign, he has continued to do so, topping the shot-denying records once more with 147 saves.
Millers supporters haven’t had much to cheer about during the course of the last two seasons, but Johansson’s play has been one bright spot from the current campaign, which has seen them accumulate a pitiful 20 points from 38 games.
United will be staring relegation in the face if they lose any of their games over the Easter break, with only eight games left and 19 points standing between them and safety.
Placing oneself at the third tier will probably see Despite Sheffield United’s initial interest, a number of players depart the New York Stadium, with Johansson probably being among the most sought-after players from a variety of Championship teams.
Viktor Johansson deal could suit Birmingham City and Stoke City
Birmingham City and Stoke City are two sides who might make a move; both are expected to be looking for new goalkeepers for the upcoming season.
The Potters used the loan market in January to bring Daniel Iversen from Leicester City to the team until the end of the season after Mark Travers’ loan agreement with Bournemouth was terminated early. Veteran John Ruddy’s contract at St Andrew’s will expire this summer.
This indicates a lack of confidence in former top scorer Jack Bonham, as Steven Schumacher—who joined the team in December—is expected to have a clear out at the Bet365 Stadium in the summer.
Both teams could do much worse than fork over the money to sign Johansson, as the Swede’s fundamental statistics demonstrate how important he may be to a team if given enough protection to further their goals.
As the goalie for the weakest defence in the league, you can only fend off so many attacks. The present Millers’ keeper could be a great asset for a strong Championship team if he were given more assistance in stopping shots.
Before they want to make any moves for players in the summer, both teams must maintain their second-tier standing because they are currently locked in an exciting relegation battle at the bottom of the division.
The Blues are currently clear of the relegation positions on goal differential alone, with three points separating the clubs between 23rd and 18th. Huddersfield Town is currently level on points but two goals worse off.
Schumacher’s Stoke team has gained some crucial points recently with two victories in their past four games, putting them two points above the drop zone; nevertheless, with eight games remaining, nobody’s future is yet assured.
Both teams will want to prevent a recurrence of their respective awful seasons if they remain up, and having a dependable goalie at the end of the campaign can make all the difference.
Johansson has repeatedly shown his abilities in the second division, so whomever signs him in the summer will have a player who can truly define outcomes.
