Leeds United remain on the hunt for a new right-back before the end of the window.
The Whites are still yet to make their first foray into the market this month and have just nine days to complete any remaining business before the February 1 deadline.
Having lost both Djed Spence and Luke Ayling earlier in the month, right-back is very much a priority for Daniel Farke and there have been links to a number of Premier League players perhaps on the fringes at their current clubs.
One of those is West Ham United’s Ben Johnson, who is out of contract in the summer. He has already rejected the offer of two new deals, but talks are expected to get back underway.
Johnson has made just one Premier League start this season but an impressive cameo off the bench in West Ham’s 2-2 draw at Sheffield United earned him plenty of praise from his manager David Moyes.
Moyes comments on Johnson a blow for Leeds
With West Ham’s squad currently a little stretched, Johnson was actually brought on in an unfamiliar role in central midfield. Via the Athletic, Moyes spoke of how he impressed he was with the 23-year-old after the match.
He said: “I thought we needed to have some control and Ben was probably unlucky not to start. I thought he played well when he came on the other night. Actually, when he came on, we had more control in the game when we switched to three in midfield.”
Having seemingly lost his way a bit over the last 12 months, Johnson would appear to have find a bit of form in the last couple of weeks amid interest from Leeds.
These performances, coupled with the fact first-choice right-back Vladimir Coufal is now suspended after being sent off on Sunday, could mean he is set to be handed a regular chance.
With Neco Williams also looking almost impossible to pull off, this latest development on Johnson is a big blow in Leeds’ pursuit of a new right-back.
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