Former West Brom midfielder Carlton Palmer has backed new owner Shilen Patel to sign Mikey Johnston permanently in the summer.
Patel completed a £60 million takeover of the West Midlands side in February, and with his new financial backing, it could have a knock-on effect on Johnston’s future at West Brom.
Johnston has looked rejuvenated in the English Championship with six goals and an assist in nine appearances.
He has impressed Palmer and West Brom fans since joining in January on loan.
Palmer said: (Football League World), “He’s become a fan favourite, and with Shilen Patel having taken over, hopefully in the summer the manager will be afforded funds to bring in players to make sure West Brom can be in and around the automatic promotion places next season, should they not go up this season.
“And, one of those players the fans would certainly like to see at the football club is Johnston.”
With no option to buy in the summer, it may prove difficult for Patel and West Brom to sign Johnston permanently.
The Irish winger will have other suitors for his signature, and with a chance that Celtic could look to bring him back in pre-season, it is far from certain that West Brom will sign Johnston on a permanent deal in the summer.
This decision regarding Mikey Johnston, possibly still rests with the manager, whoever that is going to be imo?
Weather we like it or not, a Celtic squad still has to be formed around the 8 homegrown rule?
That’s still nearly a third of a 25 man squad, which is required for CL football, as things stand?
Believe lawal will be involved along with Kelly with our squad, bringing us up to 6, I would be fairly certain about, regarding the 8 required?
So possibly could monty or frame be in the reckoning as the backup LB?
Which in turn could mean 1 from possibly Mikey, vata or Forrest?
I somehow don’t think Bain will be used as a no2 to fill up the required numbers any longer imo?
Can’t think or even know of a potential Scottish keeper who could fill the homegrown requirement either, but maybe there might be someone?
Getting the right balance with the 8 homegrown could be crucial for ourselves also, as it wasn’t in place this season, which meant fewer available options when injuries impacted upon ourselves, and game management also?
We seem to be finally addressing a problem that has been left idle for way to many European ventures, and hardly surprising we haven’t gained the results at CL level, when we haven’t managed to get an overall squad in place either?
A decent team at CL level isn’t enough for ourselves, especially with the 5 sub rule in play, and the impact injuries to key players have caused ourselves?