Crystal Palace have now discovered how top January target Brennan Johnson really feels about joining them from Tottenham.
Spurs open to Johnson offers with Palace eyeing January move
Johnson’s Tottenham career promised so much when he etched his name into club folklore by scoring the Europa League final winner against Man United back in May.
That dramatic goal in Bilbao ended Spurs’ agonizing 17-year trophy drought and appeared to cement the Welshman’s status as a key player heading into this campaign.
The £47.5million signing from Nottingham Forest struggled initially to nail down a starting berth during his debut season but kicked on spectacularly last term.
He finished as Tottenham’s leading Premier League goalscorer with 11 goals while contributing seven assists across 51 appearances in all competitions.
Fast-forward to December, and the picture looks drastically different.
Thomas Frank’s arrival as manager has completely altered Johnson’s trajectory at Spurs, with the 24-year-old relegated to peripheral status despite his iconic contributions just months earlier.
Johnson has started just six Premier League matches this season with barely 900 minutes of first-team action accumulated across 20 appearances in all competitions.
He’s scored only four goals too, with his influence dramatically diminishing under Frank.
Outscoring Mateta: Crystal Palace now battling Arsenal to sign £13m forward
A Europa Conference League attacker is now a transfer target for the Eagles.
Mohammed Kudus arrived from West Ham over the summer and immediately established himself as Frank’s preferred right-wing option, leaving Johnson scrambling for minutes either as backup or shunted to the left where he’s looked considerably less effective.
Wilson Odobert has also leapfrogged him in the pecking order, while Dejan Kulusevski’s eventual return from injury will further squeeze his opportunities. The writing appears on the wall for Johnson, and Palace are looking to take advantage.
Palace have been closely monitoring the forward with contact already made, according to some reports, with signing a new winger seen as urgent.
Oliver Glasner desperately needs attacking reinforcements amid an unprecedented fixture schedule that also includes Conference League commitments.
Ismaila Sarr’s departure for AFCON with Senegal has further exposed Palace’s lack of depth in wide areas, making Johnson an increasingly attractive proposition for the Eagles’ ambitious manager.
Brennan Johnson’s stance on joining Crystal Palace in January
Now, according to TEAMtalk, Palace have been given a boost in pursuit of the former Nottingham Forest star.
Sources confirm Johnson is receptive to the move and eager for consistent minutes ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where Wales could still qualify via the play-offs.
Staying in London is also an appealing factor, with the winger unwilling to uproot his family for a move outside the capital.
Personal terms are unlikely to prove an obstacle, according to TT insiders familiar with negotiations. Palace are preparing to accelerate their interest when the window opens, with the south Londoners aiming to strike a quick-fire deal.
Spurs could recoup significant portions of their £47.5 million, fee with suggestions that anywhere between £30 million and £40 million might suffice depending on payment terms and add-ons.
Frank appeared to throw cold water on departure speculation ahead of facing Liverpool this weekend, insisting he’s happy with Johnson while acknowledging any player not featuring regularly will inevitably assess their options.
Former Palace and Spurs striker Chris Armstrong has sensationally claimed the deal is already done, posting on social media that Johnson will prove shrewd business from the high-flying Eagles.
Whether Armstrong’s claims hold water remains to be seen, but momentum is clearly building, and he could be one to watch at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace keen on “incredible” £50k-p/w forward with same agent as Pino
Oliver Glasner is looking to upgrade his attacking options.
