"A three-horse race" - Pundit issues transfer claim as Ipswich Town target West Ham man | OneFootball

Former England midfielder Carlton Palmer believes joining Ipswich Town from West Ham United would be a good move for Ben Johnson if they are in the Premier League.

Ipswich Town join Leeds and Southampton in the Ben Johnson race

This comes after it was reported by the Daily Mirror (21/4 paper edition; page 71) that the Tractor Boys have joined Leeds United and Southampton in the race for the Hammers defender.

It was revealed back in January that Leeds held an interest in Johnson, with them later being joined by Southampton.

Neither promotion-chasing side got a deal for the player over the line though, meaning he has remained at West Ham for the rest of the 2023-24 season.

They both remain interested in the player, but now face fresh competition from Ipswich. Johnson’s contract with the Premier League side expires at the end of this season, meaning if a new deal isn’t agreed, he will depart for nothing come the end of June.

Carlton Palmer issues verdict on Ben Johnson, Ipswich Town rumours

FLW asked ex-Sheffield Wednesday and England midfielder Carlton Palmer for his thoughts on Ipswich Town joining the race for West Ham’s Ben Johnson.

Palmer believes Johnson will not join a Championship club; he will want to stay in the Premier League, so if Ipswich are there, he thinks it would be a good move for the player.

Palmer exclusively told Football League World: “Ipswich Town have now joined the race for the signature of West Ham’s right-back Ben Johnson.

“There is a host of clubs interested in his signature; Leeds United and Southampton. It is believed that David Moyes and West Ham are still trying to convince the player to sign a new deal.

“His contract runs out at the end of the season, and he is going to be available on a free transfer. Johnson will have been frustrated with his lack of game-time, and I’m sure the 24-year-old would want to stay in the Premier League, and he wants to be playing more regular football.

“So, it is whether West Ham could convince him that if he stays, he is going to get more game-time.

“The fact that he hasn’t signed a contract at this moment in time, means that I don’t think he is going to renew his contract at West Ham.

“I think any of those clubs that are interested in him would be a good move for him. It is a three-horse race, and I don’t think he will move to a Championship club.

"I think he will want to stay in the Premier League, so as long as Ipswich is in the Premier League, and that would be a great move for him because he knows that he is going to play under a young manager in Kieran McKenna, who is getting the best out of young players.

“He is at that age now where he needs to be playing regular first-team football, so if he is not going to get that at West Ham, and it hasn’t happened so far, then he needs to move on to pastures new because he has only played 14 games this season and at 24 you need to be playing more games than that for you to develop properly.”

Given Ben Johnson’s situation at West Ham, it will come down to what the player wants to do, but the fact that he is hardly playing at this moment in time suggests that he could be set to leave the club come the end of the season.

If that is the case, Johnson will want to join a side where he is going to play more regularly, and, as Carlton Palmer suggests, a side that is in the Premier League.

Ipswich still have some work to do for that to happen, but if they do reach the top flight, that and the fact that he would work under a very talented manager in Kieran McKenna make it a good move for the player.

Promotion to the Premier League would mean Ipswich need to stock up their options, and Johnson could easily find himself playing week in and week out at the club, as he would likely be seen as a better player than what they currently have.