Exclusive: West Ham expert shares his thoughts on whether Ben Johnson would be a good signing for Leeds United

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Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing West Ham United right-back Ben Johnson on loan this month.

The Whites are in the market for at least one new full-back before the end of the window, having cut short Djed Spence’s loan from Tottenham Hotspur, before Luke Ayling made the move to Middlesbrough.

Johnson is out of contract at West Ham in the summer and has found game time hard to come by so far this season, and his ability to play on both flanks make him an attractive option for Daniel Farke.

Farke admitted in his press conference yesterday that Leeds are looking to strengthen in a few positions, with Phil Hay name dropping Johnson as a target just a matter of hours later.

Though Johnson is just shy of 100 appearances for the Claret and Blue of West Ham, some supporters may not be hugely aware of the type of player he is. With that in mind, we have asked Hammers News writer Antony Martin for the lowdown on Leeds’ latest target.

What can Leeds fans expect from Johnson if he joins?

You can expect to be hugely frustrated because he has all of the tools needed to be a top player, but he just isn’t! He made his debut for us in 2019 when he was just 19, and he looked like the real deal.

However, Johnson has regressed badly over the past year or so now and is a shadow of his former self. Who knows, perhaps he could rekindle his career with you guys?

What are Johnson’s biggest strengths?

He has decent pace, is comfortable with the ball at his feet, and is extremely versatile. He can play in both full-back positions and as a centre-half if needed.

Are there any weaknesses Leeds should be aware of?

His positional awareness is off the charts bad, and he tends to go to sleep during games. It’s not surprise he’s only played 91 minutes for us in the Premier League this season.

Would you expect Johnson to be a success at Leeds in the Championship?

Debatable. The Championship is probably his level, but if I’m being honest, I don’t think I’d want him playing for my team if we were chasing promotion to the Premier League.

Summary – Jury out on Leeds target Johnson

Based on these comments, it sounds as though Johnson has so far been unable to fulfil the early promise he showed just after his breakthrough into West Ham’s first team.

However, he hasn’t ever really been a regular starter for the Hammers and at his age, game time is the most valuable thing to his development.

Dropping down a division to join Leeds could be exactly what he needs to get his career moving back in the right direction. His versatility is clearly also a bonus.