Everton eye free transfer move for West Ham defender Ben Johnson amid financial concerns
Everton are “unsurprisingly keen” on a free transfer deal to sign Ben Johnson when his West Ham contract expires in the summer, according HITC.
Graeme Bailey reported via the outlet’s website on 15 April that the Hammers defender has already rejected “numerous” attempts to keep him at the London Stadium, and is now attracting interest across the Premier League and Europe ahead of a summer move.
The Toffees’ interest is seen as obvious given the financial situation at Goodison Park makes the 24-year-old an attractive option for free.
But they face extensive competition with Tottenham, Aston Villa and Wolves also tracking him ahead of the end of the season, while clubs in Italy, France and Germany have all reportedly talked to his representatives as well.
Sean Dyche has seemingly been interested in Johnson for multiple windows, so now he is due to be available for nothing he could finally get his man.
Can Sean Dyche secure Everton signing from London Stadium?
There aren’t many transfer market races that the Toffees feel especially confident running these days thanks to their extension financial pressures.
But a free agent is one target they can pursue easier than some, and given the lack of consistency at right-back this season they can potentially offer regular top flight football.
That has to be a significant consideration for Johnson if he has turned down offers to stay at West Ham, since his usage under David Moyes has never been extensive.
If European sides have all been in touch without success that suggests he wants to stay in the Premier League, since he would have been free to agree a foreign move for three and a half months now.
Spurs and Villa can clearly offer a lot more in terms of European football and challenging at the other end of the table, but whether Johnson could expect to start regularly for either is potentially a doubt.
Dyche has cycled through four options this season without seeming overly taken by any of them, opening the door for a new arrival to make the position his own.
Ashley Young is already 38, Seamus Coleman is 35 and has had significant recent injury issues, Ben Godfrey is primarily a centre-back, and the relationship with Patterson appears to have deteriorated significantly.
So if Everton can convince Johnson that he is coming in as a first choice option they may have a chance to secure a bargain deal, and he does have versatility to play elsewhere which is bound to be useful for Dyche who will likely not have extensive numbers again next term.
In other Everton news, Jamie Carragher has branded a recent accounting discovery a “joke” in the wake of points sanctions on the Toffees.
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