West Ham contract rebel Ben Johnson is now willing to stay after demanding ‘top dollar’ to do say claims a new report.
Utility player Johnson has thus far refused to sign a new deal with West Ham with talks off the table ever since The Athletic revealed the West Ham academy graduate had snubbed a six-and-a-half-year contract at the club.
He was even linked with a move away from West Ham in the January window when Football Insider claimed Everton were interested.
Johnson has had something of a strange West Ham career so far.
His versatility has, in many ways, been his biggest downfall. He can play right-back, centre-back and left-back – but has failed to impress consistently in any of those positions.
Johnson is out of contract in the summer of 2024. So while the situation is not particularly pressing, West Ham do not want to find themselves in the position of being forced to sell just to make some money from their academy graduate.
It is fair to say the defender divides opinion among Hammers fans. And many supporters believe Johnson should be snapping West Ham’s hands off for a lengthy new deal.
The last we heard on the matter form The Athletic, talks were off the table but it seems the situation may have changed slightly.
West Ham contract rebel Johnson is now willing to stay but wants ‘top dollar’ to do so claims a new report.
Claret and Hugh’s Hughie Southon claims the academy product’s representatives were looking for “top dollar” when talks were put on hold earlier this year and that the Hammers were not sure given the player’s indifferent form.
West Ham contract rebel Ben Johnson now willing to stay but wants ‘top dollar’ claims report
The report claims West Ham are now holding off on any contract talks until the summer, as is wise given the club’s uncertain – albeit improving – situation.
But Claret and Hugh believe Johnson now wants to stay if and when those talks resume.
“Right now however, the club are delaying negotiations with him and others until we see where we are at the end of the term,” Claret and Hugh state.
“But the young man has been with the club since he was a kid and is believed keen to remain – we hope so.”