Leeds United transfer news: Phil Hay shares January update on West Ham defender Ben Johnson
Leeds United are interested in signing West Ham United defender Ben Johnson during the January transfer window, according to Phil Hay.
The Athletic journalist reported on Thursday (11 January) that the Whites are interested in signing the versatile Hammers defender on loan this month as Daniel Farke looks to bolster his defensive options at Elland Road.
Johnson is capable of featuring at both right and left-back and would provide another option to Farke after both Djed Spence and Luke Ayling have seen their Leeds careers come to an end in the January transfer window.
The Whites have also monitored Nottingham Forest full-back Neco Williams, but the Premier League side are unlikely to sanction a January exit for the Welshman while Connor Roberts also remains on Leeds’ radar.
Get him in
Johnson is a player who fits the exact sort of profile that Farke has been looking for during the January transfer window. Leeds United need new options at fullback and the West Ham man offers exactly that as he is able to cover either flank.
While neither Spence nor Ayling were Farke’s preferred option on the right of defence in the first half of the season, at least one of them featured in almost every matchday squad this season so it would be incredibly risky to not find a replacement this month.
Johnson would not only be that replacement, but he would also be able to cover the often injury-prone left-back duo of Junior Firpo and Sam Byram as Leeds look to push their way back into the fight for the automatic promotion places this season.
It will be interesting to see whether the Whites can negotiate a deal as the Englishman has been a bit of a spare part in David Moyes’ side this season. Hopefully, they can get their man and really kick on in the second half of the campaign.
In other Leeds United news, Alex Crook has shared an update on the Whites’ interest in David Brooks this January