Brennan Johnson on the brink of joining Crystal Palace from Tottenham
Crystal Palace have struck a deal worth approximately £35 million with Tottenham Hotspur for winger Brennan Johnson, though the 24-year-old has yet to commit to the move, reports BritPanorama.
Negotiations between the two clubs progressed rapidly over the past day, solidifying the fee for the Wales international, who is now weighing his options before making a final decision on his future.
Bournemouth also represents an alternative for Johnson, with suggestions they may view him as a potential replacement for Antoine Semenyo, who looks set to join Manchester City after the Premier League champions trigger his £65 million release clause.
If Johnson decides to move to Selhurst Park, he would enhance Oliver Glasner’s attacking lineup as Palace contend with both domestic matches and European fixtures. This comes despite Johnson scoring the decisive goal in Tottenham’s Europa League final victory against Manchester United in May, which marked the club’s long-awaited return to silverware after 17 years.
However, that notable contribution has not guaranteed him a spot under new manager Thomas Frank, who has provided the winger with limited opportunities, allowing Johnson to start just six Premier League matches this season. New signing Mohamed Kudus has effectively claimed his position on the right wing, while Dejan Kulusevski remains sidelined since May due to knee surgery.
Frank is expected to address Johnson’s situation in an upcoming media engagement. Should Johnson’s transfer proceed, it would rank as the fourth-largest sale in Tottenham’s history, trailing only the exits of Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, and Kyle Walker. Despite this, Spurs would incur a significant financial loss on the sale, having paid Nottingham Forest £47.5 million for Johnson in September 2023.
The decision to accept such a financial loss underscores Johnson’s diminished standing under Frank, who is intent on reshaping his squad during the January window. Reports indicate Johnson is in a dilemma, deciding whether to forgo Champions League football with Spurs for a move to Palace, who are participating in the Conference League for the first time.
Johnson began his career at Nottingham Forest, playing a crucial role in their promotion to the Premier League during the 2021-22 season. His performances eventually earned him a move to north London, where he enjoyed a productive first season, contributing five goals and 11 assists, which helped secure Europa League qualification for Spurs.
This season, Johnson has netted four goals from 20 appearances, demonstrating versatility by playing across both flanks. As he considers his next step, the coming days could prove pivotal not just for him, but for the attacking strategies of both clubs involved in this evolving transfer saga.
