Tottenham Hotspur have taken a significant step towards selling forward Brennan Johnson, just months after he secured his place in the club's history. Spurs have accepted an offer from Crystal Palace believed to be worth around £35 million for the 24-year-old Wales international.
From Bilbao Hero to Potential Exit
Johnson's legacy at Tottenham was cemented in May when his scrappy, close-range finish in the Europa League final in Bilbao ended a 17-year major trophy drought for the club. The goal, his 18th of a prolific season, toppled Manchester United and brought European success back to N17 after four decades.
Despite this iconic moment, Johnson's future now appears to lie elsewhere. The proposed move would see him leave for £10 million less than the fee Tottenham paid Nottingham Forest for him two-and-a-half years ago. While the transfer window does not formally open until New Year's Day, and Johnson trained fully on Tuesday ahead of Spurs' match against Brentford, the decision is now in the player's hands.
The Logic Behind a Surprising Sale
The decision to sell a reliable goal source may seem bold, especially following Son Heung-min's summer departure and with the team sometimes struggling for goals from open play. However, the move is underpinned by a clear rationale within manager Thomas Frank's squad structure.
Johnson has found regular starts hard to come by this season. The summer arrival of Mohamed Kudus from West Ham for £55m has established him as the preferred choice on the right wing. While Johnson has scored four goals to Kudus's three in all competitions, he cannot displace him. On the left flank, Johnson is deemed less effective.
As a result, the forward has started only six of Tottenham's 18 Premier League games this term, often appearing from the bench. With players like Dejan Kulusevski returning from injury, his opportunities were likely to diminish further. At 24, Johnson is understood to desire more consistent playing time.
Financial and Squad Implications for Spurs
For Tottenham, the sale represents a chance to address a historical weakness. 'Part of it is being able to sell,' admitted manager Thomas Frank. 'You see the other top clubs, they are quite good at selling. That's something we need to be improving.'
A £35m sale would make Johnson the club's third-biggest sale in the last decade, behind only Harry Kane and Kyle Walker. This is a notable achievement for a board criticised for poor sales, such as those of Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso, who left for minimal returns after big-money signings.
The funds and freed-up squad space are expected to be reinvested, with Frank identifying a left-sided wide attacker as the main January priority. Johnson may not be the only departure, with interest from Juventus in defender Radu Dragusin and a potential sale of Yves Bissouma also on the cards.
While other clubs like Bournemouth, Aston Villa, and Everton retain an interest, Crystal Palace are now in pole position to secure the signature of the Europa League hero, aiming to push the deal through swiftly in the new year.
