Manager Matt Taylor's message to any clubs who want Rotherham United goalkeeper Viktor Johansson

MANAGER Matt Taylor has fired a warning to any clubs who are weighing up a summer swoop for Rotherham United Player of the Year Viktor Johansson.

Goalkeeper Viktor Johansson signed a new two-and-a-half-year deal in January but his form has been so good in the successful Championship survival push that bigger teams than the Millers will have taken notice.

Taylor wants to build a side around characters like the Swede and said of any potential suitors: “They’ll have to play a lot of money, won’t they, if they want him.”

Johansson, who won his first senior international call-up in March, won the Player of the Year prize at Rotherham’s end-of-season dinner at AESSEAL New York Stadium and was also voted Players’ Player of the Year. Taylor was in full agreement with that state of affairs when he was asked who his choice would have been

“That’s the easiest question I’ve ever had to answer,” he said. “Viktor by an absolute mile. His level of level of performance has been above the level of other players, if not the level of the league, in every single game this season. He has saved us so many points. He has been outstanding.”

The 24-year-old missed only three league matches all season and was in tears when he and his manager embraced following the safety-securing 1-0 home win over Middlesbrough ten days ago. Taylor, who generally keeps his feelings in check, admitted that the moment the pair shared had moved him.

“I’m not an emotional person  — it’s one of my weaknesses as a man — but when I was hugging Viktor when he was sobbing I really felt it,” he said. “It just shows what staying up means to him.

“I’m delighted we’ve got him contracted, I’m delighted he’s got international recognition, I’m delighted he’ll only get better from this point on. He’s a pleasure to work with because he’s a good person.”

Other award-winners at the sold-out New York bash were chairman Tony Stewart (Lifetime Achievement), captain and longest-serving player Richard Wood (Special Achievement) and Hakeem Odoffin (Goal of the Season, for his winner against Boro).

Meanwhile, the Supporters Club have also made Johansson their Player of the Season, with members voting for him in both the home and away categories, and have chosen Odoffin’s Middlesbrough strike as best goal.