West Ham are still eager for Ben Johnson to sign a long term contract, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The club recently activated a clause in his contract, although there's still doubts over his long term future with the Hammers.

What's the latest news involving Johnson?

West Ham recently offered the 22-year-old a six-year deal at the club, although they failed to reach an agreement.

However, with Johnson's deal expiring this summer, the Hammers activated a clause in his contract which saw him extend his stay by an extra two years.

Johnson broke into the first team last season but has only recently become a regular part of David Moyes' side this term, where he's made 27 appearances in all competitions.

With Vladimir Coufal out injured, the West Ham academy graduate has moved ahead of Ryan Fredricks in the pecking order and is enjoying a long run in the side, making notable contributions in both legs against Sevilla and will be hoping to keep his place for the games against Lyon next month.

Johnson has also earned recognition on the international stage, with the defender rewarded for his form with a first call up to the England Under-21s squad.

With Johnson continuously impressing in recent weeks, Jones believes that West Ham are still keen on getting him tied down to a long term deal.

What did Jones say about Johnson?

He told GIVEMESPORT: "They tried to sign him on a long term contract, which wasn't done, but they triggered this extension and from what I understand, West Ham want to get him to sign fresh terms within the next six months or so if they can."

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Does Johnson deserve a contract?

The youngster has enjoyed an very successful first full campaign in the first team.

According to WhoScored, Johnson has been West Ham's tenth-best player, although he's been their second-best performing full-back behind Aaron Cresswell.

His form hasn't gone unnoticed either, with David Moyes describing him as an "important player" after netting his first goal of the season against Aston Villa in November, while the Hammers boss was keen to point out how key his versatility is in the squad.

With Johnson looking more at home in senior football with every passing week, it comes as little surprise that Jones believes they're trying to keep him on board for many years to come.