West Ham United show their hand as Crystal Palace close in on Ben Johnson free transfer
West Ham have made a “desperate” attempt to convince Ben Johnson to stay amid interest from Crystal Palace, according to GiveMeSport.
The online publication reported on Tuesday (26 March) that Palace are edging towards lining up Johnson as their first summer signing.
However, with no deal yet in place for Johnson to join United’s London rivals, United are not giving up hope of getting him to sign a new deal.
The report read: “There is a strong feeling that Johnson will bring the curtain down on his West Ham career and embark on a fresh challenge at Palace after a deal has been in the works for a number of months, according to GMS sources, but his current employers are still desperate to convince him to sign fresh terms.”
Ben Johnson contract situation at West Ham
Johnson cannot be blamed for being frustrated at a lack of playing time at London Stadium, having started just four league games this term.
If Palace are offering the versatile ace the prospect of more regular playing time in the Premier League, he has every right to accept it.
West Ham are said to have offered Johnson a new contract, which he is reported to have declined as he felt he was deserving of higher wages.
The Irons now have one last chance to talk him into staying put, or else they risk losing him to a club down the road for nothing.
That would be the biggest frustration in all this – not getting a fee of any note for a player that has Premier League experience.
At the same time, if West Ham do not believe Johnson is worth as much as he is allegedly asking for, then so be it.
As frustrating as it is, Johnson ultimately will not be missed all that much as long as a replacement is brought in.
In other West Ham news, an ironic transfer twist may have helped give the Irons a free run at signing a “remarkable” player this summer.
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