Matt Hobbs has been speaking about Wolves’ newest signing Sam Johnstone.
Wanderers have made their first signing of deadline day, bringing in the goalkeeper from Crystal Palace.
It is thought that Wolves paid around £10 million for Johnstone, who had been out of favour at Selhurst Park.
Johnstone comes in and will now compete for the number one jersey, which is currently held by Jose Sa of course.
Johnstone’s arrival is very interesting, because it now throws Sa’s future into doubt. Johnstone likely will not have moved clubs to be a number two again.
But Hobbs has made some comments to suggest that Johnstone and Sa may be competing.
Matt Hobbs reacts as Wolves sign Sam Johnstone
Johnstone has arrived at Wolves and is looking forward to getting started.
The 31-year-old has signed a four-year deal, and the former West Bromwich Albion stopper will now be hoping to hit the ground running.
But fans are wondering if he will now instantly become the new number one.
At present, Jose Sa is still a Wolves player. He has been linked with an exit for a lot of the summer, and he could yet depart the club today.
Or, he could well leave for Saudi, with their window closing on October 6.
Hobbs has given some thoughts about Johnstone, and spoke about the potential competition for the number one jersey at Molineux.
He said (via Wolves official): “I think it’s the same as every other position on the pitch. You don’t have two midfielders when you want to play two, you have four or five, and they scrap it out.
“I think a squad and a team is in a much better place when there’s real competition for every place. Dan will want to be part of that conversation as well.
“I don’t think it’s a shootout, so to speak. Three will want to compete for that. I know a lot will be made of it because Sa’s here, but if we can add such an experienced player, who is homegrown and knows the league, and it makes the whole group more competitive, then we wouldn’t turn that down in any other position, so why do we turn that down with a goalkeeper?”
Sa to stay, for now?
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It seems clear that with the signing of Johnstone, the long-term future of Sa at Molineux is in doubt.
He could be on the move today, but obviously the Saudi window is open for longer, and it might be that he’s still a Wolves player come tonight, and makes a move at a later date.
Hobbs’ comments may well imply that Sa is staying for the time being. But there is, of course, the possibility that Dan Bentley could be the one to leave, and that Johnstone will become the number two at least for now.
But we will wait and see. It was claimed earlier this week that Sa’s agents were trying to broker a move to Saudi for him.
Things move very quickly at the end of a transfer window, and the current Molineux number one could be in contact with his agents as we speak.