David Sullivan transfer plea made at West Ham United as Ben Johnson slammed
Frank McAvennie has blasted exit-bound West Ham United defender Ben Johnson for “smiling too much” and has urged the club to “get people that want to defend” this summer.
Johnson looks set to leave the Hammers on a free contract upon the expiry of his contract, with no extension agreed.
And McAvennie – speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone – feels the club need to splash out on better defenders.
“[David Sullivan’s] got to spend. Let’s go and get decent players,” he said. “Get two centre-halves – good centre-halves.
“I didn’t like Johnson, you know, I didn’t like him as a full-back. He smiles too much for me. When he loses a target, he smiles, and I’m like, ‘Get the ball back, what are you smiling for?’ I think he’s just pleased to be out there sometimes.
“[Vladimir] Coufal’s not bad, I like him. he doesn’t like getting beat. [Aaron] Cresswell – apparently the new manager likes him. But I would think they’ve got to get a complete back four.
“Just go and get people who want to win the ball. With the midfield players and the strikers that we’ve got, that’s all we need. Get people that want to defend, give it to somebody who can play and get on with it. But first and foremost, get four guys that want to defend.
“A centre-half that doesn’t want to head the ball just baffles me. I’m just thinking, ‘Just go and win it and it takes all that danger away.’
“I don’t know how much money Mr Sullivan will give them. He’s got to give them something because he never gave them the Declan Rice money and he’s only paying £2m for the stadium.”
How active will West Ham United be in the transfer market?
The Hammers are set for a summer in which new head coach Julen Lopetegui is likely to oversee a drastic overhaul of the squad.
Johnson is one of several players set to be out of contract, while club captain Kurt Zouma’s deal expires at the end of next season.
There should be plenty of activity in both directions from the London Stadium before the 2024/25 campaign kicks off.
In other West Ham news, McAvennie was stunned by what Mohammed Kudus did recently.
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