Irish winger would leave Championship side West Brom for £5 million

Mikey Johnston will make the move from West Bromwich Albion to Brazilian side Flamengo, according to local media in England.

He is expected to join the side for about £5 million, according to the Express and Star. The winger scored two goals in 40 Championship games for the West Midlands team last season, and has 15 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

Flamengo are one of the biggest teams in Brazil and recently beat Chelsea in the group stage of the Club World Cup. He would link up with players such as former Ballon d’Or nominee Jorginho and former Juventus player Alex Sandro.

Johnston would join a growing Irish contingent playing football outside Ireland and Britain, with the likes of Troy Parrott, Festy Ebosele and Callum O’Dowda plying their trade in continental Europe.

Ex-Celtic star could be set for stunning move to Brazil

West Bromwich Albion winger Mikey Johnston could be set for a surprising move to Brazil.

Reports indicate that Brazilian side Flamengo have made a formal approach for the 26-year-old, just a year after he joined the Baggies permanently.

Johnston, who impressed during a loan spell at The Hawthorns, hasn’t replicated his form this season, scoring three goals and assisting five.

Despite this, the former Celtic man has caught the eye of the South Americans.

According to the Express and Star, Flamengo are prepared to pay around £5 million for Johnston.

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West Brom are reportedly content with the deal, as it would represent a profit and help adhere to profit and sustainability rules.

The move is described as “progressing well” and is understood to be a life-changing opportunity for the winger.

Johnston netted seven goals during his initial half-season loan spell at West Brom.

Phillips starts, Grant misses out: How Ryan Mason’s strongest West Brom starting XI could look

West Brom supporters have plenty of questions surrounding how Ryan Mason will line up the Baggies when the season gets underway in a month’s time.

West Brom are preparing for another year in the second-tier, and new boss Ryan Mason is tasked with improving on last season’s disappointing collapse. After enduring such a high turnover of players last season, WBA supporters will be hoping for a more stable campaign.

Some could say that the Championship looks to be wide open this season. The likes of Bristol City last season showed that no one can be ruled out to make a late push – despite falling short against Sheffield United in both legs.

With much of this summer’s business still to be done, we take a look at what West Brom’s current strongest starting XI could be…

The current strongest West Brom starting XI

(4-3-3)

Griffiths; Furlong, Phillips, Heggem, Styles; Price, Diakite, Mowatt; Fellows, Maja, Johnston

Two weeks into Mason’s first pre-season at the club, Nat Phillips has been the standalone signing so far after joining from Liverpool. As of yet, there has not been any players who featured regularly in last season’s starting XI that have left the club.