Exclusive: Stoke City, Swansea and Oxford race to sign defender

Stoke City, Swansea and Oxford are chasing a deal to sign Sturm Graz defender Max Johnston on loan, sources have told Football Insider.

Johnston joined Austrian champions Graz last summer from Motherwell in a compensation deal worth around £400,000 after he turned down a contract extension in Scotland.

The 20-year-old played 29 games last season as he helped his side to win the league and cup double, earning his first senior Scotland call-up.

Championship trio Stoke, Swansea and Oxford are all keen on the right-back but are joined in their race by other clubs from across Europe.

Championship clubs Stoke, Oxford and Swansea compete to sign Sturm Graz defender

Johnston made the move to Sturm Graz last summer, opting to leave Scotland in search of a step up in level by moving to Europe.

This follows a trend of Scottish players moving abroad to hone their skills, with the likes of Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson having made the move in recent years.

The defender has represented Scotland at Under-16, Under-19 and Under-21 levels, and has been involved in senior camps despite not yet making his debut.

Since making the move to Austria, Johnston has seen a notable improvement in his game and has become a key target for clubs in England’s second tier.

At 20 years old, a move to the Championship on loan would represent the next step in his career as he continues to push forward with his development.

Stoke and Swansea have named Johnston on their list of targets as they look to improve upon mid-table finishes last time out by strengthening their options before the window closes.

Oxford, meanwhile, will be looking to stay in the division following their promotion last time out and view the right-back as a valuable addition to their squad.

In other news, Newcastle fans are raging after what Crystal Palace owner Steve Parish said on Sky Sports.

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