Leeds want to sign Ipswich star Ben Johnson after Portman Road development
Leeds United are already under pressure to rebuild their squad in order to sustain a realistic Premier League challenge.
Daniel Farke and the Leeds board – between whom it remains uncertain whether they will work together next season – watch as Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton all pass them in the opposite direction down to the Championship.
These were the three sides who overcame the Whites this time last year – and Leeds know for all their quality, more Premier League experience is required to establish top-flight football back at Elland Road in the long term.
Farke interested in punt for Ben Johnson
Leeds have already been linked with players of Premier League pedigree ranging from promising unproven youngsters tipped to excel at the top level, to multiple-time title-winners like Raheem Sterling.
The promoted Whites will already be compiling a list of transfer targets, ahead of their effort to secure 100 points and become champions when they visit all-but-relegated Plymouth Argyle down in Devon this Saturday (3 May).
The three relegated sides from the Premier League this season will be sitting tight in preparation to lose some of their best players, including Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich – whose fight was the best mustered by any of the promoted clubs from last season and still weighs in with only 21 points so far.
Ipswich signed Ben Johnson on a free transfer from West Ham United last summer, but the right-back has only started 14 of his 22 league appearances so far and could be offered the chance to stay at the top level.
According to The Sun (2 May, pg 49), Leeds are set to battle it out with Fulham for the signature of Johnson, who made 51 Premier League appearances across his last three seasons at West Ham.
David Moyes is a particular fan of Johnson having managed the 25-year-old at the London Stadium, claiming at the start of last season he was desperate for him not to depart (Hammers News, 25 August 2023).
Moyes, now back as Everton boss, explained at the time: “[Johnson is] a great boy, I really like him, I really hope he stays. He came through the youth system at West Ham and we certainly wouldn’t want to lose him if we can help it.”
Leeds United reassessing right-back options
As part of Leeds’ squad overhaul this summer, ruthless decisions are set to be made including the potential dropping of players who have been outstanding in helping achieve promotion.
Jayden Bogle has been Farke’s first choice thus far, but could be improved upon having been part of a dismal Sheffield United backline in his last season in the Premier League – while Sam Byram is out of contract and Isaac Schmidt has merely featured sporadically this year.
| Ben Johnson – club career | Apps |
| West Ham United | 109 |
| Ipswich Town | 25 |
Farke knows if he is to remain in post, there is massive immediate pressure to prove he belongs at the top level – and 49ers Enterprises are likely to hold this over the German in order to shape the squad how they see fit.
Johnson was a West Ham youth product, and has previously represented the England Under-21 side before making the first move of his career last summer to join Ipswich.