Fulham FC lining up transfer swoop for £30k-a-week Ipswich Town star | OneFootball

Ben Johnson is reportedly on the Cottagers' radar ahead of the summer window

Fulham are interested in striking a deal for Ipswich Town right-back Ben Johnson following the Tractor Boys' relegation back to the Championship, according to new reports.

Ipswich have displayed the most gallant of efforts of all the relegated sides to try to survive in the top-flight this season, but their plight has ultimately been in vain, after their drop back to the second-tier was confirmed with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United last weekend.

Planning will no doubt have already begun for life back in the Championship under Kieran McKenna, but the popular boss may potentially have to do without one of his main men in Johnson next season.

Ipswich Town's Ben Johnson linked to Fulham ahead of summer transfer window

London-born Johnson came through the youth ranks at West Ham, and made his senior debut for the Irons in 2019 before going on to appear over 100 times for his boyhood club up until his exit last summer.

Ipswich moved to sign him in July upon the expiry of his contract at the London Stadium, and he signed a four-year deal with the Tractor Boys ahead of their long-awaited return to the Premier League.

According to Capology, that deal is estimated to see Johnson earn a weekly wage of £30,000 at Portman Road.

He has featured 26 times in all competitions for the club so far this term, but could be set to leave following their relegation back to the Championship this summer. Sky Sports have reported that Fulham are interested in making a move for him soon, but they are set to face some obstacles as they plot a potential transfer.

The same report states that, with three years left to run on his deal at Portman Road, Johnson is understood to be a key part of Kieran McKenna's plans as they aim to challenge near the top of the second-tier next season.

There is also no relegation release clause in his contract, so it would likely take a sizeable fee for the Cottagers to prise the 25-year-old from Ipswich's grasp this summer.

Fulham have quickly established themselves back in the top-flight over the last few years - this is only their third campaign back in the Premier League since promotion in 2022, but they are yet to flirt with the idea of relegation and are now chasing a place in European competition under Marco Silva.

Silva was the man that led them out of the second-tier nearly three years ago, so he is clearly well aware of how to help players adapt to life against the elite compared to in the Championship. It comes as little surprise, then, to see him linked with players that have struggled to make the step-up this season, but clearly have the potential to be solid Premier League players soon.

Johnson fits that mould, and so does Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters, who Sky Sports have also claimed is a target for the West London outfit ahead of the summer window.

Walker-Peters' contract at St Mary's is set to expire at the end of June, and Fulham are expected to open talks with his representatives at the end of this season, following the Saints' own relegation.

With that said, it is clear that Johnson is not the only target in the Cottagers' thinking for the summer window. That will be music to the ears of Ipswich supporters, who have warmed to the ex-West Ham man following his impressive recent performances despite their poor form as a team, and will not want to see him leave anytime soon.