<
>

Manchester United's Sam Johnston a target for Wigan and Villa - sources

Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is a loan target for Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic, sources close to the player have told ESPN FC.

Johnstone is third-choice goalkeeper at United, with David De Gea and Sergio Romero ahead of him, but manager Jose Mourinho is an admirer of the player.

Mourinho gave him a new deal until 2018 last month but feels he would be best served by going out on loan to gain first-team experience.

Former England youth international Johnstone came through the ranks at Old Trafford but has yet to make his competitive first team debut for the club and has spent loan spells at Scunthorpe, Walsall, Yeovil, Doncaster and Preston.

Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is keen to bolster his goalkeeping options in January, while Wigan are in the market for a keeper after seeing Liverpool loanee Adam Bogdan ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury.

Wigan boss Warren Joyce worked with Johnstone during his time as reserve team manager at United and is keen to bring in the 23-year-old.