‘It’s over for Brennan Johnson’ as Tottenham advanced talks update emerges for January
Brennan Johnson’s time at Tottenham looks to be in its final throes as the curtains start to come down on 2025.
Johnson, 24, has struggled to maintain a spot in Thomas Frank‘s starting line-up this season, despite being the match-winner who won Spurs the Europa League title back in May.
The Wales forward has started just six times in the Premier League, averaging only 44 minutes per game across his 13 total appearances.
As a result, it’s starting to look as though Johnson could be leaving Tottenham, especially with the North London club putting irons in the fire to add to Frank’s attack in the upcoming January transfer window.
Tottenham line up Yan Diomande as Brennan Johnson replacement
In the summer, Ademola Lookman was one of many targets that Tottenham looked at to bolster Frank’s firepower.
And with the winter transfer window now less than three weeks away from opening, Spurs have started to take an interest in RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande.
It was reported earlier this month that Tottenham are in advanced talks to sign Diomande, who has scored seven goals and supplied four assists in 15 appearances for Leipzig this term.
However, Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg claimed on Friday that while Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City are among the clubs keen on signing the 19-year-old Ivory Coast international, “there are no concrete or advanced talks” at this stage.
Plettenberg adds that due to Diomande having four-and-a-half years left on his contract and that there’s no release clause in his deal with Leipzig, the Bundesliga club will want at least £87.7million for the ex-Leganes attacker next month.
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How Diomande outclasses Johnson in just about every area
He’s 19 and he’s only played 25 times in senior club football, but it’s clear that Diomande is a huge talent that Spurs have to be getting on board.
Although Johnson will go down in Tottenham’s history as the player to end their 17-year streak without any silverware, it’s been clear for a while that the ex-Nottingham Forest man isn’t the kind of player that they should be relying on if they want to bring the glory days back to North London.
Let’s face it, not long ago, Spurs fans were heralding Gareth Bale and even Son Heung-min for starring on their wings. Johnson won’t ever be on the same level as them, unfortunately.
But Diomande does have the potential to.
Both players can play in the same positions: either wing or up front.
Diomande has largely played down the right-hand side for Leipzig this season, with him scoring a hat-trick in his last appearance on the German club’s right wing when they beat Frankfurt 6-0 at the weekend.
In that 87-minute loan appearance, the Ivorian has outscored Johnson for the whole season, with the Welshman not netting since he scored in Tottenham’s win over Manchester City back in August.
| Johnson | Diomande | |
| Age | 24 | 19 |
| Position | RW/LW | RW/LW |
| Nation | Wales | Ivory Coast |
| Caps (Goals) | 42 (7) | 4 (2) |
| Market value | £30.7m | £17.5m |
| Contract expires | 2028 | 2030 |
It’ll no doubt be a big outlay for Spurs to sign Diomande, with Leipzig wanting what they reportedly do for the teenager and also the interest in him potentially sparking a bidding war.
Selling Johnson to offset the cost of buying him could be an option at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as there’ll no doubt be takers for Johnson in the Premier League.
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