‘More than happy to’ – £47.5M Tottenham star tipped to stunningly rejoin former club
Brennan Johnson, the Tottenham Hotspur winger, has been tipped for a surprising return to Nottingham Forest, sparking speculation about his future amid criticism from former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara.
Johnson made the move to Tottenham from Forest in the summer of 2023 for a significant transfer fee of £47.5 million. The deal showcased chairman Daniel Levy’s ambition to back head coach Ange Postecoglou with fresh attacking talent following Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich in a £100 million transfer.
However, Johnson’s time at Tottenham has been a mixed bag, with fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium not always convinced by his performances.
During his debut season with Spurs, Johnson managed five goals and 10 assists in 38 appearances across all competitions. While these numbers were respectable, they fell short of the high expectations set by his price tag.
This season, however, the 23-year-old has shown improvement, netting 14 goals and providing three assists in 38 matches. Despite this upturn in form, questions about his consistency and overall impact persist, leading to speculation about his future.
Paul Taylor, a Nottingham Forest writer for The Athletic, has suggested that Johnson could potentially make a return to the City Ground this summer. Taylor noted that if Forest secure qualification for the Champions League, Johnson would likely be open to rejoining his former club.
Speaking during a Q&A session, Taylor said, “I’d guess that he’d be more than happy to come back to Forest to play Champions League football, if they do manage to get themselves over the line for that, of course. But there might be a few more complicating factors involved.
Not least the fact that Anthony Elanga has been a pretty exciting replacement for him. He has been brilliant down the Forest right. One more wide player or forward added to the mix would be very useful, of course, particularly one of Brennan’s quality.
Would he get into the team right now? That’s a different question, or perhaps the question is where he would fit in. It’s definitely an interesting idea.”
Johnson’s potential return to Forest raises intriguing questions about his role and fit within the team, especially given the emergence of Anthony Elanga as a key player on the right flank. While Johnson’s quality is undeniable, his ability to secure a starting spot in a Forest side that has evolved since his departure remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, Johnson has faced criticism from Jamie O’Hara, the former Tottenham midfielder and talkSPORT pundit. O’Hara has been vocal about his frustrations with Johnson’s performances, particularly his perceived lack of impact in one-on-one situations.
Following Tottenham’s 3-1 win over AZ in the Europa League last-16 tie, O’Hara said, “Brennan Johnson, for me, he gets on the end of things, but he frustrates the life out of me. Odobert has got a bit more about him.
He (Johnson) gets on the end of things, he’s the one that finishes the move off. But when he gets on the ball, I want to see more, go past players. He’s great with his runs, he wants Maddison or someone to put him in, he’ll get on the back post, and that’s a great attribute to have.
But if you want to play for Tottenham week in, week out on the wing, you’ve got to produce when you get the ball at your feet. You saw that happen with players Spurs have had as wingers, like Bale, Lennon, and Ginola. You need someone who can do that.”
O’Hara’s comments highlight the high standards expected of wingers at Tottenham, with comparisons to club legends like Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon, and David Ginola underscoring the level of performance required to thrive in North London.
In other transfer news, Tottenham have received a boost in their pursuit of Lille midfielder Angel Gomes. Reports suggest that Manchester United, Gomes’ former club, have decided against re-signing the England international, leaving Spurs as frontrunners to secure his services on a free transfer this summer. Gomes, who has impressed in Ligue 1, could provide additional creativity and depth to Postecoglou’s midfield.
Additionally, Real Madrid have reportedly identified Tottenham defender Cristian Romero as a potential target as they seek to strengthen their backline. Romero, who has established himself as a key figure for Spurs, is said to be on Real’s radar as they look to bolster their defensive options.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold remains their primary target for the right-back position, with Tottenham’s Pedro Porro emerging as a secondary option.
Finally, former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has weighed in on the future of Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, suggesting that a move to Tottenham could be on the cards.
Aldridge said, “As much as I would love him to stay at Liverpool for the rest of his career, I think I can probably see him having to go to play regular football because it’s what he deserves. As much as he loves Liverpool, he should be playing week in, week out. As a Liverpool fan, I’d love to see him go abroad. I think it would be great for him.
I’m looking at the top teams here, and there’s some teams like Tottenham that need a better goalkeeper… Manchester United need a better keeper! But he’s not going there! He could play for any team in the Premier League, but personally, I’d say it’s one of the top teams in Europe that he deserves. Italy, Spain, Germany, or whatever. I think that would be perfect for him, I really do.”
As the summer transfer window approaches, Tottenham’s plans are taking shape, with potential moves for Gomes and Kelleher, alongside the ongoing speculation surrounding Johnson’s future, adding intrigue to what promises to be a busy period for the club.