Aston Villa looking closely at Joe Hart as goalkeeping alternative

Manchester United’s Johnstone spent the second half of last season on loan at Villa Park and remains very much top of Steve Bruce’s list, with the Villa boss likely to learn in the coming days whether he has been successful in acquiring the 24-year-old’s services for the approaching Championship campaign.

But Hart has not been ruled out as a serious alternative should United prove reluctant to let Johnstone depart.

The 30-year-old is almost certain to leave Manchester City this summer, having spent last season on loan in with Torino in Serie A.

And though Hart might be reluctant to drop down into the Championship with the World Cup less than 12 months away, Villa are in bullish mood after convincing John Terry to join and believe the presence of a former international team-mate could be used as a possible carrot in any approach.

Their primary focus, however, is on securing the return of Johnstone, with discussions between Bruce and United boss Jose Mourinho having been ongoing since before the end of last season.

The youngster is highly-rated and certainly not short of suitors, with Middlesbrough, Leeds, Sunderland and Premier League Watford all thought to have expressed an interest.

But Villa believe they are in pole position to complete a deal, providing Mourinho is prepared to let the keeper leave for the season on loan.

United’s own goalkeeping situation remains uncertain, with speculation continuing to swirl over the future of their No.1 David De Gea.

Yet Johnstone is currently the club’s fourth-choice custodian and the prospect of regular first-team football at Villa, where he made 24 appearances last term, is naturally of great appeal.

The one-time Walsall loanee was the third keeper to be used by the club last season after Pierluigi Gollini and Mark Bunn and after a slightly uncertain start went on to be one of the club’s best performers during the closing weeks of the campaign, keeping eight clean sheets.