July 1st is a big day in the football calendar. That is the day when contracts end, and goodbyes are said.
West Ham United, HITC reported on Tuesday, are set to lose Ben Johnson when that date arrives.
The Hammers were confident that they had finally agreed terms to tie to the homegrown defender down to a new five-year contract at the start of the week. That was, however, until the much-coveted Johnson opted to swap East London for East Anglia.
He will add some potentially vital Premier League experience to Kieran McKenna’s newly-promoted Ipswich Town squad.
But while one full-back leaves on a free transfer, could another arrive to take his place?
West Ham United can sign Juan Miranda for nothing
HITC also reported, back in April, that West Ham had sent scouts to watch Real Betis’ Juan Miranda. The former Spain Under 21 international also has admirers at Brentford, Wolves and also a Crystal Palace side looking for a more attack-minded wideman to fit Oliver Glasner’s wing-back system despite Tyrick Mitchell’s impressive adaption to a new role.
Miranda, a former Barcelona youngster, is also due to become a free-agent in just a few days’ time.
And, like with West Ham and Johnson, it appears that Real Betis are fighting a losing battle attempting to convince him to stay.
Sporting director Manu Fajardo has been speaking about the situation to Marca, both Miranda and midfielder Guido Rodriguez seemingly destined to be on their way.
“In both cases, both Miranda and Guido, we have been negotiating for quite some time, giving them renewal offers,” Fajardo explains. “But they have not been accepted.
“They have not made it official or have not signed with another club. But there are no open negotiations and it does not seem that they will stay at the club. We will thank them for their work and we will wish them luck.
“That is the current situation.”
Wolves and Crystal Palace also in the race
The technically-gifted, swashbuckling Miranda could yet be one of the best bargain signings of the entire summer. The 25-year-old would provide genuine competition for Emerson Palmieri on the left-hand side of Julen Lopetegui’s backline, with the veteran Aaron Cresswell better suited to a more central role these days.
Betis vice president, Jose Miguel Lopez Catalan, meanwhile tells El Correo that the signing of Romain Perraud from Southampton was made with Miranda’s likely departure in mind.
The Frenchman leaves The Saints for around £3 million, having spent last season on loan at OGC Nice in France.
“We undertake this signing with a lot of conviction,” Catalan says. “When a signing of this calibre is made so soon (in the window), it is because both parties are very convinced.
“On the part of the club, it is important to understand that we were very sure and very convinced that we had to reinforce this position due to the foreseeable departures of both (fellow full-back) Abner and the non-renewal of Miranda.”
Catalan admitted a few months ago that there was also interest from AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund. The Champions League runners-up could return with a vengeance, after losing last season’s loan star Ian Maatsen.
Maatsen is set to join Aston Villa in a deal worth around £37 million from Chelsea.
HITC understands that Real Sociedad are also among Miranda’s admirers. Fulham were keen back in 2023 too, though Antonee Robinson signed a new long-term contract around the same time.
West Ham, meanwhile, have an interest in fellow left-footers Max Kilman – who worked with Lopetegui at Wolves – and Feyenoord’s David Hancko.
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