West Ham United have moved once more to try and secure Ben Johnson’s future at the club, according to the Sunday Mirror.
On page 49 of their publication [12 May], the Mirror’s Darren Witcoop claims Johnson – soon to be a free agent – is ready to turn down a final contract offer from the Hammers, amid interest from Rangers and a potential new chase from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
With David Moyes ready to leave the London Stadium to be replaced by former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui, Johnson could be set to follow him out the exit door after starting just four Premier League matches this term.
The 24-year-old has come through the ranks at his boyhood club but now looks to be ready to seek a new challenge, and his versatility has appealed to numerous potential suitors.
Time for a new chapter for Ben JohnsonThe case with ultra-versatile players such as Johnson is that they will always be offered new deals at their club, but often just to be used as a secondary option in several positions, and Johnson has understandably reached the end of his patience.
The fact West Ham tried to sell the full-back in January in a last-ditch attempt to bring in a small fee for a player with six months of his deal to run tells you all you need to know.
Structural changes at the London Stadium – not least the managerial switch – are unlikely to deter Johnson from heading elsewhere for first-team football.
The added incentives of a bulky signing-on fee and long-term contract as a free agent this summer reinforce the likelihood of the England Under-21 man now coming to the end of his Hammers career.
Wolves now join Rangers, Southampton and Leeds United in holding a firm interest in Johnson, with Everton also in the frame as both Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young approach the end of their deals.
