It was reported back in January by the Daily Mail that Leeds United held an interest in Johnson,
At the time, the Yorkshire side were looking to improve in the right-back area and Johnson was on their radar, but the club went on to seal a deal for Connor Roberts from Burnley instead.
It was also claimed by Football Insider that Southampton held an interest in the full-back, but a move never occurred.
A few months on, it appears that both Leeds and Southampton remain interested in the player, but they face fresh competition now in the form of promotion-chasing Ipswich.
| Ben Johnson’s 2023/24 Premier League stats for West Ham | |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 14 |
| Minutes per game | 39 |
| Goals and Assists | 0 |
| xG | 0.20 |
| xAG | 0.12 |
| Big chances created | 0 |
| Clean sheets | 1 |
| Interceptions per game | 0.4 |
| Tackles per game | 0.8 |
| Balls recovered per game | 3.5 |
| Clearances per game | 0.9 |
| Average rating | 6.47 |
| Stats as per Sofascore.com (As it stands on 22nd of April) | |
Johnson is very much a wanted man, as his contract with the Hammers expires at the end of this season and, given his lack of game time, he could consider a fresh move.
It has been claimed that manager David Moyes will make one last move to keep Johnson, but with interest mounting, it is unclear if he will remain at the club.
Ipswich joining Leeds and Southampton makes Ben Johnson’s decision harder
So, with the news emerging that Ipswich are also interested in signing West Ham’s Ben Johnson this summer, we asked some of the writers at Football League World for their thoughts on the matter and who they believe is the best club for the player.
Here is what they said…
Brett Worthington
It seems that Johnson is not going to be short of options this summer, as the number of clubs interested mounts up.
The 24-year-old is an academy graduate of West Ham’s, so you would presume that the player’s preference would be to continue playing for the Premier League side, but that may not be what happens.
Johnson first started to appear in the first team on a regular basis in the 2020/21 season and since then he has gone on to play over 100 games for the club in variety of competitions.
However, it isn’t quite as impressive as it looks, as the defender is hardly starting any games and now with his contract expiring at the end of this season, it could be time he cuts his losses and tries a new challenge.
Both Leeds and Southampton being interested in Johnson would have likely appealed to the player, as they are both big clubs, competing at the top end of the Championship, with one if not both likely in the Premier League next season.
So, joining either of those two sides would have been a very good option for the player and either side would have had a good chance of securing his signature.
However, with it now being revealed that Ipswich have joined the race, it puts a different look on it, as it could be said these may be the best option for Johnson.
Ipswich joining this race definitely makes the decision harder for Johnson, as the Tractor Boys are also competing at the top of the Championship and could also be playing in the Premier League next season.
But, you wonder with them having Kieran McKenna in charge and all that he has done with the players at the club, Johnson may look at that and feel he wants to be part of that, as they are a club on the up, and he could work under a manager that could definitely improve his game.
It seems an open race, as Johnson will be a free agent if a new deal isn’t agreed, but Ipswich may just have an edge on the other sides, especially if promotion is secured ahead of Leeds or Southampton.
Ben Wignall
Johnson has only been a bit-part player in the Premier League for West Ham for the majority of his professional career with the club, and with the aspirations that the club have at the London Stadium, they will surely be looking for better quality this summer.
That isn’t to say that Johnson isn’t a decent player in his own right, but he perhaps needs to move elsewhere to fulfill his potential and start week in, week out.
A right-back irrespective of what league Ipswich find themselves in next season should be somewhat of a priority – Harry Clarke hasn’t always started this season whilst Man United loanee Brandon Williams hasn’t been seen for months.
Johnson would be an ambitious target as a Championship club and a real Clarke upgrade, but should promotion be signed and sealed, Ipswich would have a fantastic chance of landing his signature.
The player himself should consider Portman Road as a realistic destination as Kieran McKenna is a coach that could get another level out of him, and on a free transfer, Johnson should be high on Town’s radar.
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