West Ham United table new last-ditch long-term contract offer to in-demand Ben Johnson
West Ham have offered Ben Johnson another last-ditch contract extension as the in-demand player heads towards an exit, according to The Athletic.
Roshane Thomas reported via the outlet’s website on 11 June that the club have put forward terms on a new five-year deal for the versatile defender.
The 24-year-old has previously rejected multiple offers to extend his stay at the club, including one just last month, but he is now considering all options including the improved terms.
Crystal Palace, as well as clubs including Aston Villa and Tottenham have been named as interested in signing him [HITC, 15 April] on a free transfer if he leaves the London Stadium this summer.
Game time under David Moyes was an issue for Johnson as he remained stuck behind starter Vladimir Coufal at right-back, but incoming manager Julen Lopetegui wants to keep the Englishman.
Julen Lopetegui hopes to convince Ben Johnson to commit future to West Ham
Johnson’s reluctance to sign a new West Ham deal was perhaps not surprising when he had remained little more than emergency cover under Moyes for so long.
He never made more than 20 appearances in a Premier League season under the Scot, and often came off the bench.
But it would appear that Lopetegui has greater plans if the club are making such an effort to prevent the homegrown defender from leaving.
Coufal is 31 and could feasibly be phased out if the former Wolves boss wants to go in a different direction so perhaps that will be enough to convince Johnson that he has a future with the Hammers.
His agent is sure to have heard suggestions of what might be out there on the open market, especially from clubs outside of England who have been free to negotiate since January.
But if West Ham are offering improved terms on a long-term deal it looks like the show of faith he might have been hoping for.
In other West Ham news, the Irons are about to sell a player and immediately sign a permanent replacement.
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