---
title: "Everton: Toffees ‘plotting’ Ben Johnson move"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-transfer-news-johnson-premier-league/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2023-01-30T21:45:01Z"
modified: "2023-01-30T21:45:01Z"
---

# Everton: Toffees ‘plotting’ Ben Johnson move

**Journalist Pete O’Rourke says that [Everton](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-fc-news/) are ‘plotting’ a move for West Ham United defender Ben Johnson.**

### The Lowdown: Gordon money to spend…

Everton now have money to spend after selling Anthony Gordon to Newcastle United for a reported [£40m](https://twitter.com/JacobsBen/status/1619728137843261440), potentially rising to [£45m](https://twitter.com/JacobsBen/status/1619728137843261440).

However, the Toffees have reportedly offered the [same amount](https://twitter.com/CraigHope_DM/status/1620075646939713536) to Chelsea to try and sign midfielder Conor Gallagher, so it will be interesting to see how much money they have left in the bank to potentially spend on other signings.

### The Latest: Johnson move plotted

Taking to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/SportsPeteO/status/1620080912762298369), O’Rourke says that Everton are also ‘plotting’ a move for Johnson before the transfer window closes tomorrow night.

He tweeted: *“Understand Everton are plotting a move to sign West Ham defender Ben Johnson before the close of the transfer window.”*

Expanding in his corresponding article for [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-everton-set-sights-on-signing-west-ham-star-ben-johnson/), O’Rourke adds that [new Toffees manager](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/3040462/dyche-named-new-everton-manager) Sean Dyche has already ‘sanctioned’ the move and is a ‘big admirer’ of Johnson’s versatility and [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) calibre.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”418944″\]

### The Verdict: Smart target

Everton need to strengthen in a number of key areas before the transfer deadline, including in attack after the departure of Gordon, but full-back is another area [which needs cover](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-everton/startseite/verein/29).

Johnson is [equally as comfortable](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-johnson/profil/spieler/468002) playing at right-back as at left-back, and Ruben Vinagre is only on loan from Sporting Lisbon, so the Toffees will need long-term competition for Vitaliy Mykolenko on the left flank.

At right-back, Seamus Coleman is not getting any younger at 34, while Nathan Patterson has struggled with [injuries](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nathan-patterson/verletzungen/spieler/424015) ever since making his move from Rangers.

Nonetheless, considering Johnson’s Premier League [experience](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-johnson/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/468002/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=GB1&pos=&trainer_id=), this would be a smart move for the Toffees, should they be able to get him signed before the deadline.