West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui may well have a really big problem on his hands this summer.
That’s because the Hammers boss could end up being forced into playing someone who he might not have given many minutes to otherwise.
Julen Lopetegui took over as the new West Ham manager this summer, and he has serious amounts of work to do at the London Stadium.
With up to 12 Hammers first-teamers being linked with the exit door, the Spaniard has a huge rebuild on his hands.
Lopetegui needs to strengthen in pretty much every single position this summer, if we’re going to make any kind of progress in the 2024/25 campaign.
It’s why the former Wolves boss is targeting a minimum of six new signings before the start of the new season.
However, one player who was being heavily tipped to leave the London Stadium may well now be set to stay.
It’s not all good news though…
Julen Lopetegui faces problem after West Ham man’s contract demands
The Hammers boss may well have a big issue on his hands ahead of the new season, if Ben Johnson signs a new contract with the club.
It seemed for all the world that Johnson would leave West Ham on a free transfer this summer, until just last week when it was claimed that he was deep in discussions with the club regarding a new deal.
And now, The Athletic claim that the Hammers have offered the 24-year-old new and improved terms on a five-year contract.
However, there’s something specific about the deal that could prove to be a big issue for Lopetegui somewhere down the line, and it’s to do with something being demanding by the full-back.
Johnson is said to be asking for guarantees of regular first-team football, and I honestly don’t see how Julen Lopetegui can provide the West Ham defender with that.
He certainly won’t be getting into the side at left-back ahead of Emerson Palmieri, and the same can be said on the right side of defence with Vladimir Coufal the current number one right-back.
That’s not even taking into account any potential new full-backs Lopetegui might bring to the club this summer.
If West Ham cave to Johnson’s demands, it means one of two things – 1) Lopetegui will have to play the 24-year-old when he might not want to or 2) the club will go back on their word and the full-back will force a move away from the club next summer.
I don’t really understand this deal if I’m honest. Johnson is not good enough to be playing Premier League football in my opinion, and we certainly shouldn’t be offering him guaranteed football.
It will be really interesting to see how this one plays out.
READ ALSO:
Julen Lopetegui ‘in love’ with 26yo, personally asks West Ham owners to make £13m bid for him
Julen Lopetegui wants to sign 25yo striker who scored vs West Ham on his PL debut last season
West Ham to push through £8.5m move to sign 24-year-old after Tim Steidten recommendation