Birmingham and Stoke should rival Sheffield United for 7-figure Rotherham deal: View
The Blues and the Potters should be going all out to sign Viktor Johansson after release clause reveal
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.
Viktor Johansson is one player that is already said to be garnering interest ahead of the off-season, with likely soon-to-be second tier side Sheffield United said to be intrigued about the possibility of bringing the Swede to Bramall Lane in the summer.
The 25-year-old shot-stopper has earned himself all manner of plaudits for his professionalism between the sticks for a struggling Millers side over the past two seasons, with his performances helping them to avoid relegation in the previous campaign.
It won’t just be the Blades that will be looking to table a bid over the summer though, with plenty of other Championship clubs having a beady eye on his reported seven-figure release clause to lure him away from Yorkshire.
Viktor Johansson’s Rotherham United Championship stats
Johansson’s heroics in goal earned him the honour of being voted Player of the Year last season, with a number of stoic performances keeping the league’s best attacking talent at bay as his side avoided relegation by six points.
His 157 saves were by far and away the most of any of the league’s glovesman, while only Matt Ingram of Hull City (75.5%) and Burnley’s Arijanet Muric (76.6%) could top his save percentage of 75.4%
13 clean sheets was a solid return for a side fighting to maintain their second tier status, and it has been much the same in the current campaign with his 147 saves topping the shot-denying charts once again.
While there hasn’t been much to shout about for Millers fans over the course of the previous two seasons, Johansson’s form has been one shining light from the current campaign which has seen them pick up a miserly return of just 20 points from 38 matches.
With 19 points separating them and safety with just eight matches remaining, United will be facing relegation in the face if they fail to win either of their matches over the Easter period.
Falling into the third tier will likely see a number of faces leave the New York Stadium, with Johansson likely to be one of the most in-demand players from a host of Championship sides, despite Sheffield United’s early interest.
