Rotherham United manager Steve Evans is fully expecting one of his key players to leave this summer with The Millers relegated, and Leeds United are interested.
The Yorkshire side have endured a dismal season in which they have won just four of 45 Championship matches. They sit rock bottom of the league table, 21 points behind 23rd-placed Huddersfield Town.
Rotherham have already made a managerial decision in preparation for next season. They have sacked Leam Richardson and brought in former Leeds manager Steve Evans for his second spell in charge.
Evans is preparing for a busy summer in which many players are likely to depart, including goalkeeper Viktor Johansson. The Sweden stopper was benched on the weekend, for the first time this season.
The Rotherham boss explained that Johansson is more than likely to leave in the summer and he wanted to see how Dillon Phillips got on in goal. He did so as he is expecting Johansson to leave the club.
The Rotherham Advertiser explains that after relegation to League One, Johansson has a £1m exit clause in his contract which now becomes active. Reports from Sweden say Leeds are interested in Johansson.
Here is what Rotherham boss Evans said about Johansson leaving:
Steve Evans is planning to sell Leeds target Viktor Johansson
“The chances are that, with the huge interest in him, Viktor will leave in the summer. It will probably be a life-changing move for the kid,” Evans said, admitting Rotherham are powerless to prevent his exit.
Interest in Johansson is a bit of a surprise given that Leeds are well-stocked between the sticks. The Whites boast Illan Meslier, Karl Darlow and Kris Klaesson as Daniel Farke’s current options at Elland Road.
It might mean that one of those three options could be about to leave the club this summer. Meslier attracted interest last summer, with Phil Hay reporting that Celta Vigo wanted to take Meslier to La Liga.
Leeds interest in Johansson has been a long-standing one
Eagle-eyed Leeds fans will recall that Johansson was linked with a move to Elland Road last summer with Meslier expected to depart and Darlow yet to be signed from Newcastle United for a bargain £400,000.
What is clear is that Johansson is far too good for League One and his cap for Sweden is proof of that. The former Leicester and Aston Villa man will be attracting plenty of interest in the summer window.
Johansson won Rotherham’s Player of the Season awards in 2022-23 and is probably a likely contender to win the same this time around. For £1m, Leeds would be getting themselves a bargain.