One West Ham United player is firmly on the radar of Aston Villa ahead of the summer transfer window it seems.
The 2024 summer transfer window will be a vitally important one for both West Ham United and Aston Villa.
The Hammers face the possibility of losing up to 12 players this summer, with a big rebuild on the cards for both Tim Steidten and David Moyes…if the Scot is still in charge at the London Stadium of course!
West Ham have to sign at least five or six players this summer, probably more, if we are to enjoy success over the next few years.
The problem is, plenty of the current playing staff will be on their way out of the club – some we don’t want to lose and some that we’re more than happy to see go.
But which category does the Aston Villa target fall into?
Aston Villa could sign West Ham man in the summer transfer window:
Unai Emery appears to be a huge fan of one Hammers player in particular.
It’s a strange one this because he’s showed genuine ability and talent at times this season, but at the same time he’s been absolutely awful on occasion as well.
In spite of that, Villa are seemingly determined to get their man…
Ben Johnson is wanted by Villa boss Unai Emery according to a report from TEAMtalk.
Recent reports have claimed that the 24-year-old Hammers full-back could commit the ultimate sin by joining our bitter rivals Tottenham this summer.
However, now Aston Villa have entered the race it seems. Johnson will be out of contract at the London Stadium in the summer, so as things stand he will leave on a free transfer in a couple of months time.
Interestingly, the defender has excelled when playing in midfield for us two or three times this year.
His ability to run with the ball makes a huge difference for us, especially inside the last 20 minutes of games, and his form has been fairly impressive on the whole.
However, his limitations are clear to see. He put in back-to-back awful performances against Bayer Leverkusen and Fulham respectively.
He showed a complete lack of desire to run back and track his man in the build-up to Fulham’s second goal on Sunday, and he made a pathetic attempt to close down the cross for Victor Boniface’s second goal in the Europa League on Thursday.
I won’t lose any sleep if Ben Johnson leaves West Ham to join Aston Villa in the summer transfer window, that’s for sure.
Why is Ben Johnson unhappy with the West Ham owners?
The 24-year-old is demanding big money from the Hammers board, and he is thought to be extremely unhappy with what’s being put in front of him.
David Sullivan an co are refusing to budge, and are offering him nowhere near the £60k-a-week that he wants.
I’m almost certain that he’ll leave this summer. He’s not good enough to perform consistently well in the Premier League in my opinion.
Whether that statement comes back to bite me if he joins Villa or Tottenham remains to be seen.
Would it be a smart move for West Ham to sell Ben Johnson? That’s the big question…