Leeds United have been linked with a number of right-backs this month.
The Whites are in the market for at least one new full-back having lost both Djed Spence and Luke Ayling within the first two weeks of the January transfer window.
Angus Kinnear confirmed as early as September that loans would make up the bulk of their strategy in January, with the Premier League clearly the market they are looking towards.
Wales international duo Connor Roberts and Neco Williams are reported targets, though a deal for the latter looks difficult to pull off. West Ham United’s Ben Johnson is also a player of interest.
Johnson has made just shy of 100 appearances for the Hammers but according to the Sun back in July, Mikel Arteta wanted to bring him to Arsenal alongside his former teammate Declan Rice.
Arteta wanted Leeds target Johnson in the summer
Arteta was keen to sign Johnson as a backup right-back in the summer and take advantage of his contract situation at West Ham. His current deal expires at the end of the season, and he won’t be signing a new one.
Despite Arsenal’s interest, Johnson ended up staying at the London Stadium but has found game time extremely hard to come by, making just two Premier League appearances all season.
Johnson is still only 23 and so Arteta is clearly someone who believes he has a lot of potential, of which he is yet to fulfil, according to our Hammers News expert Antony Martin.
Leeds will be looking to take advantage of Johnson’s situation this month by prising him to Elland Road with the prospect of playing regular football again.
He may have lost his way a bit over the last 12 months, but clearly he is a player with talent and if Leeds are to sign him, hopefully Daniel Farke is the man to bring it out of him.
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