Johnson set for exit?

Nothing firm, but a report last night suggests the midfielder could be heading out of the club.

The Times's 'window watch' speculates he could be part of a deal to bring Scott Parker to the club:

West Ham United were in talks last night to sell Matthew Etherington to Stoke City and are considering Manchester City’s revised offer for Scott Parker, which includes Michael Johnson moving in the opposite direction.

City have offered about £4 million plus the England Under-21 midfield player, who signed a new five-year contract in September, when he was attracting interest from Everton and Arsenal. Johnson, 20, gained recognition for the form that he showed at the start of last season but a pelvic injury has restricted him to eight appearances this campaign. West Ham turned down City’s initial £15 million combined bid for Parker and Craig Bellamy last week.

Given that the Johnson (along with Petrov of course) is a key component from the success of last season that we are sorely missing this time around, such a move would represent terrible business and I imagine not do Hughes any favours whatsoever with the majority of fans.

He is a huge talent and that role bridging the defensive midfield (Kompany) and attacking aspects (Ireland, Wright-Phillips) is precisely the player that we actually need, rather than be looking to ship out.

There have been plenty of whispers about Johnson's off-field 'activities', but given he is just 20 years old with a potentially big career in front of him, to give him away plus £4 million for Scott Parker (as useful a signing as he would be) would be folly - not to mention a very risky move from Hughes, who, with the lack of additions so far this window is seeing opinion against him increase further.