West Ham United set for blow as Ben Johnson makes Ipswich Town transfer decision
Dan Bardell believes that Ben Johnson choosing Ipswich Town will be a blow to West Ham United but will benefit his career.
A report from The Times (26 June) has suggested that the Englishman has agreed to a £60,000 per-week contract with the newly promoted side.
The 24-year-old looks set to move to Portman Road on a four-year deal and will depart the Hammers once his contract expires at the end of June.
Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell thinks that the move is positive for Johnson but isn’t a positive move for the club.
Speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone, Bardell said: “It’ll be a good move for Ipswich to get a player of Premier League experience who can cover multiple positions.
“Johnson obviously felt that he needed a change in environment from West Ham this summer, maybe things had gotten a bit stale.
“He never really nailed a position down at West Ham so he probably wants a fresh start.
“They will be disappointed to lose him. A player of experience and a homegrown player on a free transfer, from a business perspective it isn’t great.“
Ben Johnson to leave West Ham for Ipswich Town
This is a move that has bubbled under the surface ever since the Premier League season came to an end last month.
Since then a lot has changed with Julen Lopetegui coming in as head coach to replace long-standing manager David Moyes.
The Hammers offered him a new deal with the Spanish coach offering assurances to Johnson that he would be part of his plans [HITC].
This last-ditch attempt never worked and now the versatile defender looks set to be departing the London Stadium on a free.
In an era of PSR and FFP, losing an academy product on a free isn’t ideal given that any fee would go directly towards profits to allow them to sign more players this summer.
In other West Ham news, rival Premier League clubs are circling the London Stadium with an exit for Mohammed Kudus mooted.
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