"I've seen all the rumours" - £3m-rated star wanted by Southampton FC drops future update | OneFootball

Johnston has two years left on his deal with Austrian club Sturm Graz.

Reported Southampton target Max Johnston has made a claim about his future amid links with the Saints.

More and more British players have begun to realise the benefits of playing abroad over the past decade or so.

You've got Jude Bellingham, whose path to stardom barely involved football in this country, as a prime example of what playing on the continent can do for a player's career.

A number of Scots have heeded this advice too, with Johnston being one of the latest. He joined Austrian side Sturm Graz in July 2023 following his release from Motherwell, whose academy the right-back came through.

After a very impressive season in the Austrian Bundesliga, the 21-year-old is now a reported target for the Saints, as well as German clubs Augsburg and Hamburg, plus former Europa League winners Atalanta, as per Anthony Joseph.

Will Johnston makes future claim amid Southampton interest

Johnston has opened up on his future to Sky Sports. He revealed that he is aware of the speculation around his Sturm Graz future but is looking forward to heading back to Austria for pre-season. His current deal has another two years left on it.

There was, however, an admission from him that he aims to one day play at the "top" level of football. "As a player I've got a level that I want to achieve, I want to play at, and that's definitely the top," the right-back claimed.

"I've seen all the rumours and stuff, but for me, just now, I'm contracted in Austria for another two years, so I'm looking forward to going back for pre-season and we'll see where it takes me."

Will Johnston represents a sound move for Southampton

This isn't the first time Johnston has been on the radar of British clubs. Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City had bids for the Scottish international turned down last summer. So did French side Stade Reims, who were formerly managed by new Saints boss Will Still.

With Kyle Walker-Peters set to leave the club this summer amid interest from Fulham and West Ham, a right-back is in need and Johnston, who is valued at £3 million by his current club, may be a shrewd bit of business for them.

Even with the young defender on board, they might still need some more cover in this area of the pitch. James Bree would be the other option on Southampton's