West Ham transfer news: Expert issues ‘£30m’ claim after ‘massive’ Ben Johnson update
West Ham have saved “£30million” after tying Ben Johnson down to a two-year contract extension, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 22-year-old is the “full package” after his impressive displays this season.
As per the Evening Standard (24 February), West Ham have fended off interest from Arsenal and Tottenham after triggering the two-year extension clause in the contract of full-back Johnson.
The Hammers academy product’s contract was set to expire in June 2022.
The youngster has made 10 Premier League starts this term and could feature against Wolves on Sunday (27 February) after Vladimir Coufal underwent surgery this week.
Whelan insisted David Moyes “won’t be thinking” about signing a new full-back this summer.
“I think he’s already saved them a lot of money,” he told Football Insider‘s Russell Edge.
“He’s done enough for them not to look at anyone else in that position, quite frankly. He’s shown that he’s more than capable as a defender, he can get forward – he ticks every box as a modern full-back.
“He’s exciting to watch when he goes forward, very aggressive, and he’s got good delivery to the box at the end.
“He’s got the full package, and if I was David Moyes then I’d be very happy with his progress and I wouldn’t even be thinking about that position in the summer window.
“The two-year contract extension will save you somewhere around £30million because he will be a massive, long-term player for West Ham.”
Johnson’s West Ham appearances have come spread across left-back, right-back, and centre-back this term.
The Irons sit sixth in the Premier League, just four points away from fourth-placed Man United.
In other news, Premier League giants “hot” on signing Darwin Nunez after £40m West Ham bid rejected.