By Martin Graham
Crystal Palace has struck a £35m deal with Tottenham Hotspur for forward Brennan Johnson, leaving the Wales attacker to determine whether he will make the switch from north to south London.
The Eagles held back from lodging an official bid until after last weekend’s Premier League meeting between the two sides, despite being close to advancing talks earlier in December.
An arrangement between the clubs is now in place, but the 24-year-old has yet to commit to joining the Selhurst Park side and is still thinking over his next step.
Negotiations over his plans are expected within the next two days, with other English top-flight teams keeping tabs on the situation.
Rival interest and uncertainty at Spurs
Bournemouth are among those monitoring Johnson’s availability, as they consider potential replacements in case Antoine Semenyo secures a January exit.
Spurs boss Thomas Frank confirmed the Welshman remains eligible for selection, stating he is ready to feature against Brentford on New Year’s Day after training well.
Tottenham are looking to reinforce their own forward line, a development that could further restrict Johnson’s involvement should he remain at the club.
Targets include RB Leipzig teenager Yan Diomande and Manchester City’s young forward Savinho, as part of the north London outfit’s reshaping of their attack.
Changing roles and Spurs’ transfer strategy
The club had already indicated they would consider selling Johnson, who finished the previous campaign as their top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions.
Frank says Tottenham are trying to follow the model of leading sides by timing sales strategically, suggesting it is a key component of competing at the highest level.
He argued that success comes from multiple factors, including on-pitch identity, internal culture, and smart decisions in the market, which includes being prepared to part with players.
From european hero to limited minutes
Johnson is remembered fondly by supporters after hitting the decisive goal in the Europa League final victory over Manchester United in Bilbao in May, ending a 17-year trophy drought.
However, the managerial shift from Ange Postecoglou to Frank has seen his involvement decline, with the attacker making just six league starts so far this season.
His last Premier League goal came in the opening fortnight of the campaign, and his influence has diminished as other options have moved ahead of him.
