Agents of Hammers star Ben Johnson are refusing to discuss a new deal but the player should be biting West Ham’s hand off.
Earlier this year The Athletic claimed West Ham academy graduate Johnson had rejected a new six-and-a-half-year contract at the club after failing to strike an agreement.
That surprised many fans given a large section remain unconvinced of his ability to be anything more than a squad player at West Ham.
Reports since have claimed contract negotiations with Johnson are ongoing.
But there was a twist yesterday which will undoubtedly raise eyebrows among Hammers supporters.
Agents of star Johnson are refusing to discuss a new deal but the player should be biting West Ham’s hand off.
According to 6foot2, Johnson’s agents are no longer in negotiations with West Ham over a new and improved deal.
The West Ham full-back’s current deal runs until 2024 having activated a two-year option earlier this year.
“The club had reportedly offered the defender a six-and-a-half-year contract which was rejected on both length and value by his agent’s CAA base,” 6foot2 reports.
“The two sides are said to be far apart and no longer talking around the negotiating table, with a senior club source telling 6foot2 tonight (Monday December 12) that they will review the situation again at the end of the season when Johnson has just 12 months remaining on his extended current contract.”
If accurate – and we must remember there are two sides to every story – many West Ham fans will justifiably feel somewhat baffled by Johnson’s refusal to sign a long-term contract with what is a big Premier League club.
Neither he nor Vladimir Coufal – among several others it must be said – have been anywhere near the levels needed or expected of modern fullbacks this season.
Johnson did have a superb run in the side at the start of last season. But he has failed to hold down a regular first team place since and is often used to plug holes across the backline.
That versatility is worth its weight in gold to a manager and is arguably the biggest string in Johnson’s bow.
If this was about game time for Johnson and wanting to be a starter then his reluctance to discuss a long-term deal with West Ham might be understandable.
But the report states that for Johnson – the cousin of Spurs legend Ledley King – this is about contract value and length.
The harsh truth is that Johnson should be on his hands and knees to stay at a club like West Ham – even as a squad player – for that length of time.
He has shown flashes of being a competent full-back and even recently earned England Under 21 honours.
The modern game, especially at the top level, requires full-backs to get forward and contribute to the attacking side of the game.
And Johnson must prove he is able to bring that to the team before he gets ideas above his station.
Sometimes in football agents can give their clients delusions of grandeur. Let’s hope that is not the case with Johnson, who seems a very well liked and professional member of the squad.
He is more than good enough to be a squad player at West Ham. But Johnson needs to appreciate that fact and embrace it rather than thinking the grass is greener elsewhere.
This looks to be one for incoming sporting director Mark Noble to sort out when he returns next month. Don’t be surprised if he can talk some sense into the player and his representatives.
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