Hammers academy graduate Ben Johnson is looking increasing unlikely to receive a new offer from the club this summer, given his form levels have been mediocre to put it politely.
Ben is one of six players coming out of contract at the end of the campaign and hasn’t featured in the Premier League first team since March 4 when were thrashed 4-0 by Brighton and Hove Albion.
And despite him being a squad team member who can fill two or three positions it looks likely the club will listen to offers for him in the summer.
The club had intended to negotiate with him around Christmas but decided against it bearing in mind his form hadn’t been great at that time.
Claret and Hugh was told at that time the club were deliberately holding off offering him a deal in the hope that things would improve for him.
Nothing much has changed since and with Everton showing interest the Hammers will listen to offers.
Johnson’s form has capitulated this season following the mauling in the Premier League game against Brighton and he’s never fully recovered. Manager David Moyes put him back in the team to face KAA Gent in the Europa Conference League away leg but Johnson was unconvincing.
It is sad to hear this rumour, as I did believe that he had the ability to make the grade with us.
I still believe that he has the ability to make the grade at Premier League level, but I think his goose was cooked with his use as a utility player with us.
Being a utility player instead of owning a position very rarely works out at the highest level.
I feel very sorry for the young man. When he has been playing well he has not been given a run in the side and some of his poorer performances have been when he has been filling in in positions that aren’t his speciality. It is another indication of how badly this club treats it’s younger players. Next year a player that was not considered good enough for Premier League football will almost certainly be in the Premier league with Burnley. Josh Cullen has been an integral part of their success on the Championship.
It says he’s “coming out of contact at the end of the campaign” followed by “with Everton showing interest the hammers will listen to offers”.
If he’s out of contract in the summer and there is no way Everton can buy him now outside any transfer window, what offers would the club be listening too?
West Ham an option and could keep him as its in their favour! Gravy
How many nightmare games has cresswell had and he is still playing it seems a harsh way to treat a young player who has never been played regularly at right back which is his best position
What a shame Ben was a good prospect right back until he faced the Moyes development plan – play him out of position straight away then really compound that with three different positions, dropped after each one then dumped altogether on the basis of one heavy defeat performance. Yes let’s dump him like all the recent young ones.
Could be good cover at full back but every time i have seen him play there i must admit, he doesn’t look too assured
This is the only thing Moyes is good at……..destroying our youngsters !!!!!!!!!
Given Mubama’s excellent form this season, I expect him to breakthrough to the senior side next season. Where, if Moyes is still in charge, it’ll be exciting to see how he develops as our left wing back.
Seriously, Johnson looked a good prospect, regularly gets played out of position, does it for the team and never complains (publicly).
I hear Bonds is negotiating a return as part of Moyes’s plan to build an experienced but youthful side.
Thanks David for doing what you have, I hope you can end your time with West Ham on a high, keeping us in the Prem and winning your first trophy in the Europa Conference.
But it has to be time, now the ship has steadied, to show a little more attacking ambition under a new manager?