“Tottenham Hotspur will try to secure the signing of Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson with a cash-plus-player deal (Tom Roddy writes).
Forest are looking for a fee of about £40 million for the Wales forward, who is also wanted by West Ham United. Chelsea had considered making a move for the 22-year-old this summer but have withdrawn their interest after it was understood that the player’s preference would be a move to Tottenham.
Forest have already rejected a £35 million offer for Johnson from Brentford this summer, a deal that would have broken the west London club’s transfer record. Forest have struggled to land the transfer targets intended to strengthen Steve Cooper’s squad this summer but are resigned to the likelihood that Johnson, who scored ten goals for them last season, will leave.
Tottenham will look to exchange fringe members from their squad to convince Forest to complete the move, which would help to cut the size of Ange Postecoglou’s large group of about 35 players. Forest are keen on adding centre backs and Davinson Sánchez, Tottenham’s 27-year-old Colombia defender, is one of the possible figures to be involved in a deal.
Tottenham will suggest other options but are also willing to complete a cash-only deal. They are looking to reinvest the money made through the £94.5 million sale of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich and want to add goals and pace to Postecoglou’s attacking options.”
Brentford have some phenomenal scouting & are heavy into analytics, so I’m glad to hear Johnson was someone they were willing to break their transfer record for, in an attempt to land him.
I’ve warmed a fair bit to the idea of Brennan, since watching a half dozen videos on him and he is a technically gifted dribbler, can beat his man, and has a great shot from outside the box, to keep teams honest. Still a tough swallow giving up £40m for him (when Orban is only €30m) but if it’s £30-33m and a player swap, I’m down for it.
He only just turned 22, so still room to develop some more as well, especially under Ange.