Steve Bruce to meet Jose Mourinho over Aston Villa loanee Sam Johnstone

The 24-year-old impressed while on loan at Villa Park during the second half of the season and Bruce is eager to bring him back, either permanently or on another temporary deal.

Bruce has already held initial talks with Mourinho over Johnstone but the pair will now sit down in person, with the Villa boss hopeful of reaching an agreement.

“I have had a conversation with Jose on the telephone and I will now be going to see him,” said Bruce. “We hope there is good news there.”

Johnstone is highly-regarded at Old Trafford and penned a new deal, through to the summer of 2018, last October. But he is currently behind David De Gea and Sergio Romero in the pecking order and relished the opportunity for first-team football during his stay at Villa, where he was also a popular member of the dressing room.

The former Preston and Walsall loanee became Bruce’s first signing for the club when he joined in the first week of January.

After a slightly uncertain start, he went on to be one of Villa’s most solid performers in the closing weeks of the campaign, keeping eight clean sheets in 22 total appearances.

Villa see a deal for Johnstone as the first step in what promises to be a busy summer in the transfer market, with Bruce desperate to add the quality which can make his team genuine promotion contenders next term.

The manager branded this year’s 13th placed finish as “unacceptable” and knows the pressure is on to bring about a drastic improvement.

“I have got to have a squad of players that are going to mount a challenge, otherwise I’ll not be sitting here. Quite simple,” said Bruce.

“It’s important that we have a good summer and pre-season and, of course, the most important thing is that we assemble a squad that is capable.

“We finished 13th and that’s the lowest I’ve finished in my career. I can’t be happy with it when I’ve got the most wonderful opportunity in my career but I’ll do everything I possibly can to get us a team which can find a way to be at the top end.

“After 46 games to be 13th at a club like this is not good enough.

“It’s fair to say I’m going to have to wheel and deal. I’ve got to find a balance to the squad which isn’t quite there.”