Crystal Palace have agreed a club-record £35m fee with Tottenham for Brennan Johnson but are facing strong competition from Bournemouth to sign the Wales forward.
Palace are desperate to obtain reinforcements in attack after a punishing schedule that has meant them playing 30 games in all competitions already this season because of their Conference League commitments. With the Senegal forward Ismaïla Sarr away at the Africa Cup of Nations, the club identified Johnson as their primary target for the January window and opened talks with Tottenham several weeks ago.
The south-east London club have now agreed a deal for the 24-year-old that could surpass their record signing of Christian Benteke from Liverpool in August 2016. However, it is understood that Johnson has yet to decide on his future, with Bournemouth now expected to match Palace’s offer as they search for a replacement for Antoine Semenyo. The Ghana forward is likely to join Manchester City in a deal worth £65m.
Aston Villa, Brentford and Everton have also been linked with Johnson but have yet to make an approach. The player, who joined Spurs from Nottingham Forest in September 2023 for £47.5m, is expected to weigh up his options in the coming days before making a decision.
Johnson has struggled for game time at Tottenham under Thomas Frank this season and started only six times in the Premier League. He was Spurs’ leading goalscorer last season and struck the winner in the Europa League final to earn their first major silverware since 2008.
Johnson came on as an 85th-minute substitute in Tottenham’s win over Palace on Sunday and Frank insisted in his press conference to preview game against his former club Brentford on New Year’s Day that he remains part of the club’s plans. “He contributed to a very good and important win against Crystal Palace,” said Frank. “He trained very well today. I expect him fully to be available and able to play against Brentford.”
If Johnson departs, Tottenham are expected to seek a replacement and they have been linked with the exciting RB Leipzig 19-year-old Yan Diomande, Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche and Kenan Yildiz of Juventus.
Frank confirmed that he is keen to strengthen his squad in several areas. “We will be in the market,” he said. “The main bit is the ones we add need to be ones that we really think can improve the team. Then, like normal, there can be outgoings if you want to try to make a sharp squad.”
