"It's the perfect moment" - Journalist drops big claim on West Ham "prospect" as points dry up

West Ham United ace Ben Johnson could cost David Moyes’ Hammers a top four spot if he fails to take advantage of his prolonged run in the starting line-up, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Hammers are set to feature in the knockout stages of the Europa League for the first time when they travel to Sevilla for the opening leg of their last 16 duel on Thursday and Johnson is expected to be named in the starting line-up.

Johnson has started each of West Ham’s last three fixtures, taking his season’s tally up to 23 appearances.

While the east Londoners have seen Premier League points dry up in recent weeks, having taken just five from the last 12 on offer, the 22-year-old is enjoying his most productive campaign to date and will be eager to help the Hammers make history by progressing into the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

But there has been uncertainty over Johnson’s long-term future after The Athletic revealed the academy graduate had rejected West Ham’s offer of a new six-and-a-half year contract.

The report suggests Johnson is fully concentrated on making the right-back slot his own and the Irons will not look to revisit negotiations until the early stages of next year following the setback.

West Ham were keen to tie Johnson down to a lengthy deal due to his original agreement being due to expire at the end of the current campaign, but they have reacted to Johnson’s snub by electing to take up the additional two-year option within his contract.

Spanish sources have claimed Premier League rivals Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring Johnson’s situation ahead of potentially making a move for a defender West Ham first-team coach Stuart Pearce has described as ‘wonderful’.

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