Johnson Set to Depart Spurs as Transfer Talks Heat Up

According to BBC Sport, Brennan Johnson, who ended Tottenham Hotspur’s two-decade trophy drought last season with a decisive goal in the Europa League final, is expected to leave the club during the January transfer window. Tottenham has reportedly agreed to sell the player to Crystal Palace for a transfer fee of £35 million ($47 million/€40 million). The decision now lies with the 24-year-old regarding his willingness to make the switch across London. With Spurs aiming to strengthen their forward line in January, Johnson may find himself further sidelined under head coach Frank.

The Guardian reported on Monday that Bournemouth is also interested in signing Johnson, viewing him as a potential replacement for Antoine Semenyo, who is set to join Manchester City.

Furthermore, the BBC has indicated that Spurs are planning an ambitious move to acquire 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger Diomande to enhance their attacking options in the upcoming transfer window. However, as noted by The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor, it seems unlikely that the Bundesliga club will agree to part ways with their star player mid-season. They may consider opening transfer discussions during the next summer window but are expected to demand a staggering €100 million (£86 million/$117 million) for the talented young player.

Spurs and Leipzig have a history of good relations following previous negotiations involving players like Timo Werner and Xavi Simons.

Diomande, who joined RB Leipzig from Leganes in July this year, has quickly risen to prominence, validating Leipzig’s significant initial investment and high valuation. Described as a “street footballer” excelling in one-on-one situations, the right-footed winger has captivated audiences with his direct running, dribbling skills, and powerful shooting. After an impressive pre-season, he has seamlessly integrated into the Bundesliga.

As the German winter break approaches, Diomande has tallied seven goals and four assists in 16 matches across all competitions for Leipzig.

Frank finds himself under considerable pressure during his inaugural season at Spurs, as the club has struggled, securing only two victories in their last nine top-flight matches. The former Brentford manager, who initially garnered goodwill during his tenure with the Bees, is now facing intense scrutiny and has even received calls for his resignation from former Spurs star Ramon Vega. Following the club’s narrow victory over Palace last weekend, Vega expressed his frustrations on social media, stating: “Frank, stop talking about last season. They finished 17th. You now have more fit players than Ange had last season, yet you’re still not better off. In fact, it’s a shambles. At least Ange, with no support, turned a miserable season into a wonderful ending for the fans by winning the European Cup and qualifying for the Champions League. You are now enjoying. So please do us a favour and resign, mate!”