Luton are being linked with a move for Bolton Wanderers defender George Johnston – and a report from Greater Manchester says the Hatters are favourites to secure his signature.
Town boss Jack Wilshere’s first big move of the summer came yesterday when it was announced that talismanic midfielder Jordan Clark had penned a new deal.
Now reports in the north-west claim the Hatters are among the clubs interested in signing 27-year-old centre-back Johnstone following his departure from newly-promoted Bolton.
The defender will became available on a free transfer after Bolton opted not to offer him a new contract despite the defender helping the Trotters secure promotion to the Championship through the League One play-offs last month.
The former Liverpool and Feyenoord defender captained Bolton in their Wembley victory over Stockport County but his five-year stay at the club will come to an end after 188 appearances.
Johnstone’s release came as something of a surprise given the role he played in Steven Schumacher’s side last season, featuring 49 times in all competitions and helping Bolton finish above Luton in the League One table.
According to reports in the Bolton News, Luton face competition from fellow League One clubs Bradford City and Plymouth Argyle for Johnston’s signature, but that Kenilworth Road is “are his most likely destination once his contract at the Toughsheet Stadium comes to an end after putting together a strong contract offer.”
Wilshere has already admitted there will be departures as well as arrivals this summer as the Hatters look to build on a strong finish to last season that saw them lose only once in their final 17 matches and win the Vertu Trophy at Wembley, but miss out on the play-offs by one point.
“We identified really quickly what type of players we want here, what we want the culture to look like,” Wilshere said recently when speaking recently about his recruitment plans, adding: “We want hungry players that really want to be here and help the team.”
Whether Johnston becomes part of those plans remains to be seen, but the experienced defender’s availability on a free transfer is likely to attract significant interest across League One in the coming weeks.
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