View: West Ham show brilliant initiative with new Ben Johnson contract
West Ham have done some brilliant business in ensuring starlet Ben Johnson’s long-term future at the club.
The Hammers exercised the two-year extension option in the 22-year-old’s contract, keeping him at the club until 2024.
Johnson’s brilliant form when called upon this season brought interest from fellow Londoners, Tottenham and Arsenal as well as Liverpool whom the academy graduate performed excellently against in the Irons 3-2 win.
The defender has established himself as one of the first team regulars this season which justifies the decision for the Irons to reward him with a pay rise which comes into effect in the summer.
If the lad continues how he has started his West Ham career, he will have a really bright future at the club with the new contract increasing the chances of that by discouraging any interest.
Not only that, it means the club can sell him for a lot more money if push does come to shove.
Very smart
The club is doing some really good business behind the scenes. They will get a lot of criticism for not bringing in any players in January but tying down your top performers is just as – if not more – important than bringing in fresh faces.
David Sullivan and co are currently in the midst of tying down several key performers for the Hammers, including Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek.
With it being likely they will secure extensions for these players it only bodes well for the future of the club.
This is the best West Ham team there has been for a very long time so it is essential as many of the key players stay with the club for as long as possible to attract even better players.
Potential signings are much more likely to join a united group all working toward the same goal rather than a team that looks lost after losing their best players.
They seem to have learned from the hardship of year after year losing their best players and having to continuously rebuild the squad.
In other West Ham news, Tomas Soucek is set for a “healthy” pay rise amid contract talks – report.
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