Rotherham United’s manager, Steve Evans, has acknowledged that Viktor Johansson, once a transfer target for Sheffield United, is likely to depart the club this summer following their relegation from the Championship. With this drop in division comes a reduced transfer fee for the Swedish goalkeeper, estimated to be around £750,000 due to a relegation release clause in his contract.
Johansson, highly regarded as one of the top goalkeepers in the Championship, is anticipated to attract considerable interest in the upcoming transfer window. Leeds United and Stoke City are among the clubs reportedly interested in securing his services. Although Sheffield United had previously considered Johansson, their acquisition of Ivo Grbic from Atletico Madrid in January has not yielded the expected results, leaving uncertainty about the Croatian goalkeeper’s future beyond the current season.
In a recent match against Bristol City, Johansson was omitted from the Rotherham United lineup as Evans opted to assess his understudy, Dillon Phillips, in anticipation of Johansson’s impending departure. Evans expressed his expectation that Johansson will embark on a significant career move in the summer, which could prove to be transformative for the player.
United’s decision to forego an earlier pursuit of Johansson reportedly stemmed from concerns about his distribution capabilities, despite acknowledging his prowess in goalkeeping. However, given his reasonable transfer fee and proven track record in the Championship, Johansson’s potential departure comes at a time when three of United’s four goalkeepers, including Wes Foderingham, Adam Davies, and Jordan Amissah, may all be departing Bramall Lane due to the expiration of their contracts.
Amid speculation about his future, Johansson remains focused on his current obligations with Rotherham United. Reflecting on the team’s disappointing season, he emphasized his commitment to finishing on a positive note and avoiding distractions that could undermine his performance and that of his teammates.