Sheffield United have agreed a deal with Celtic worth up to £2.5 million for Irish winger Mikey Johnston, according to Alan Nixon.
The Blades have been in the market for a natural left-winger, viewing Jeremy Sarmiento and Johnston as ideal candidates, and now they are close to getting a move finalised for the Celtic man.
Johnston, 25, found it difficult to get into the Glasgow giants team last season so he was eventually shipped out on loan to Championship outfit West Bromwich Albion. Under Carlos Corberan, he scored seven goals and served up an assist in 18 appearances.
Johnston played in a 4-2-3-1 system where he operated down the left flank as an inverted winger, this is likely the exact role and formation he would walk into at Sheffield United. So far, Chris Wilder has been forced to play Gustavo Hamer as an inverted winger down the left, despite scoring two goals and providing an assist in three games, his overall performances have been limited due to this unnatural position change.
What can Mikey Johnston add to Sheffield United?
When you compare Mikey Johnston’s carries and dribbling ability, there aren’t many wide players in the Championship that are better. Last season in the Championship, compared to wingers and attacking midfielders, the Irish international ranked in the 95th percentile for successful take-ons as well as progressive carries on FBref.
To add, he ranked in the top percentile for shot accuracy and goals per shot. This is easy to understand why when you look at his dribbling patterns and technique. Using a data visual provided by Total Football Analysis below (for his time at Celtic last season), you can see that when Johnston has the ball down the left flank he dribbles in field towards the edge of the box so he can create a shooting opportunity on his favoured left foot.
Almost everything good Johnston does comes after a take-on. Whether it is cutting inside to unleash a shot, or if it’s to slide a player through after causing the defensive line to be disjointed. In the previous campaign he ranked in the top percentile for shot-creating actions via a take-on.
Johnston isn’t afraid of firing a cross into the box either, which is likely another reason why the Blades see him as a good fit, so he can play to Kieffer Moore’s strengths. At West Brom last term he didn’t have a box threat like Moore to aim at, but he did produce almost five crosses per game which was enough to rank him in the 85th percentile.
The Blades will have one of the most well-rounded attacks in the league
Once United get a deal over the line then their attack will be full of different elements and layers, which together should work very well. They’ll have energy to drive forward, pace to run in behind, the ability to come to feet and play with their back to goal, and they have a big target man to hit who 80% of the time has reliable control.
From what started off as a slow burner and a bit of a worry, barring any panic sale, this has turned out to be one of the best and most efficient summer windows the club has had to date.
I think good times are ahead but we’ll need to be patient. It’s almost a whole new squad which has to start functioning and we are a parachute team that others will put out their best game for. There will also be departures even at this late stage.
I trust in the second coming of the Messiah.