By Martin Graham
Crystal Palace has reached a £35m deal Tottenham Hotspur in advance Brennan Johnsonleaving it to the Welsh attacker to decide whether he will make the switch from north to south London.
The Eagles refrained from making an official bid until after last weekend’s Premier League meeting between the two sides, despite coming close to progressing talks in early December.
An agreement is now in place between the clubs, but the 24-year-old has yet to commit to joining the Selhurst Park side and is still considering his next move.
Negotiations over his plans are expected in the next two days, with other top-flight English teams monitoring the situation.
Rival interest and uncertainty at Spurs
Bournemouth are among those monitoring Johnson’s availability as they consider possible replacements should Antoine Semenyo secure a January exit.
Spurs boss Thomas Frank confirmed the Welshman remains eligible for selection, claiming he is ready to play against Brentford on New Year’s Day after training well.
Tottenham are looking to strengthen 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 young Manchester City striker Savinho as part of the north London outfit’s overhaul of their attack.
Role reversal and Spurs transfer strategy
The club had already indicated they would consider selling Johnson, who finished the previous campaign as top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions.
Frank says Tottenham are trying to follow the model of the leading sides by scheduling sales strategically, suggesting it is a key component of competing at the highest level.
He argued that success comes from multiple factors, including on-field identity, internal culture and smart decisions in the market, which includes being prepared to part ways with players.
From European hero to limited minutes
Johnson is fondly remembered by fans after scoring 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 change from Ange Postecoglou to Frank has seen his involvement diminish, with the striker 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 waned as other options have stepped up.
