Everton chase West Ham United defender Ben Johnson after Harrison Ashby completes Newcastle move
Everton wanted to sign West Ham defender Ben Johnson on loan this deadline day but are unlikely to be successful, according to Sami Mokbel.
Sean Dyche needs reinforcements on his first full day at Goodison Park and had turned his attentions to the London Stadium for the versatile 23-year-old.
However, with Harrison Ashby’s permanent exit to Newcastle made official on the same day it should mean that any further defensive departures are shut down for the Irons.
The Mail’s Craig Hope said in their deadline day Transfer Confidential show (31 January, 11min 20sec): “One deal we can bring you that has been completed in the last couple of hours is Harrison Ashby who has joined Newcastle from West Ham for a fee of £3million.”
Mokbel came back to it later in the show (19min 55sec) to add: “Just a quick aside from Craig’s Ashby news, going to Newcastle. I think that move will mean that West Ham will no longer let any of their defensive players go out today, either on a permanent or loan, which should end Everton’s hopes of getting Ben Johnson on loan.”
Shut up shop
West Ham aren’t happy to lose Ashby and David Moyes has had more than enough injury crises to deal with this season to walk into another shortage.
He began what has turned into a miserable campaign scrambling to restock in central defence after being forced to start Johnson at centre-back against Erling Haaland to open the season.
And his plans at striker have had a hole blown in them this month thanks to injuries to Gianluca Scamacca and Danny Ings, so allowing Johnson to follow Ashby out before the deadline would leave him undermanned once again.
The manager doesn’t want to be losing options at this stage given the struggle the Hammers are still deeply involved in, with Moyes’ job still on the line.
Johnson has barely played in the Premier League since the return from the World Cup, but he has made 17 appearances in all competitions this season.
If the Irons are going to have any success in the competitions they remain in then he is sure to get further opportunities, and with Craig Dawson having already left before Ashby’s departure it would be very risky to let more go.