A move away from Rotherham United? Here's what the 'Championship's best goalkeeper', Viktor Johansson, has to say about that

WANTED man Viktor Johansson has declared he has no intention of pushing for a move away from Rotherham United despite his growing number of suitors. 

The goalkeeper's outstanding form in last season's Championship survival mission earned him a clutch of Player-of-the-Year awards and his first call-ups to Sweden's national squad.

Manager Matt Taylor says he is braced for bids from the second tier, Premier League and abroad for the 24-year-old whose profile has grown ever higher since his move to AESSEAL New York Stadium as an untried youngster in the summer of 2020.

However, Johansson has delivered the news all Millers supporters wanted to hear, telling the Advertiser: “I want to focus on Rotherham and I'm here to stay. I've got two years left on my contract and this is my club.

“I'm just looking forward to the new campaign. Being a Rotherham player all next season is fine by me, 100 per cent.”

That means he will depart only if the Millers decide to cash in on one of their prized assets who, judging by what other shot-stoppers have sold for recently, must have a multi-million-pound value.

August 5 opening day is fast approaching and Johansson, who put pen to paper on a new deal in January, says his entire concentration throughout pre-season has been on the return to league action.

“To be honest with you, I haven't had one thought on other clubs being interested in me,” he said. “I want to focus on being here, I don't want to let my mind wander around.

“I told my agent in the beginning years ago: ‘I never want to hear about anything unless it's nearly done’.”

Johansson, nicknamed ‘The Viking’ and rated by his manager as the best keeper in the Championship, has become a huge crowd favourite during his time with Rotherham which has included League One promotion, a Papa Johns Trophy win and, best of all, staying up in the second tier.

The Millers signed him during the Covid pandemic when he was facing an uncertain future following his release by Leicester City and he has never forgotten that.

“This club gave me a chance when I really needed one,” he said. “It feels like home to me and has done since I started here. The fans have always been brilliant with me.”

The Swede has gone on to make nearly a century of appearances and likes the direction in which Rotherham are heading under Taylor who took the hot-seat last October and broke the five-year cycle of third-tier promotions being followed immediately by relegations.

“I signed the new contract for a reason,” he said. “I see where the club wants to be, I see the ambition. The chairman and manager want to keep the club moving forward and I'm on board with that totally.”

Taylor accepts that the Millers will have to fight off pursuers to keep their man. “I'd be surprised if people weren't interested,” he said. “You can’t get the accolades he has and not be noticed. He's one of the big reasons why we're still in the Championship.”