Interest is intensifying in West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone in the January transfer window.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by The Mirror (via West Brom News), who claim that both West Ham United and Southampton are keeping a very close eye on the situation of the Baggies shot-stopper ahead of a potential move this month.

The report reveals a sad twist to the tale, going as far as to state that, following his sending off in the 1-1 draw with Cardiff City on Sunday and subsequent three-match ban, the 28-year-old could well have played his final game for Valerien Ismael's side, as a move could be on the cards before he completes his suspension.

Fans will be fuming

Considering just how important a part of the West Brom side Johnstone has become in recent seasons, the potential of the England international having already played his last game for the club is sure to have left The Hawthorns faithful fuming.

Indeed, over his 24 Championship appearances in the current campaign, the £7.2m-rated man has kept 11 clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.4 saves and 1.7 successful runs out per game.

These returns have seen the player who Gary Lineker dubbed a "sensational" talent average a SofaScore match rating of 6.82, ranking him as Ismael's 14th-best performer in the second tier of English football.

However, while these metrics are impressive, it was over the £32.5k-per-week goalkeeper's 37 Premier League outings last season in which he demonstrated his ability at the highest level of the game, keeping six clean sheets and making an average of 4.5 saves per fixture - with these returns seeing the 28-year-old earn an extremely impressive seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.03.

As such, it is clear for all to see that, with West Brom still very much in the hunt for automatic promotion back to the top flight this season, losing a 'keeper of Johnstone's quality midway through the campaign would come as a huge blow to Albion's chances of going on to do so come next May - an outcome that would undoubtedly be gutting for everyone involved with the club.

In other news: Ismael can finally axe woeful £36k-p/w WBA flop by unleashing £9m-rated "rocket"