Nottingham Forest now needs a’minor miracle’ to keep their £30 million star.
According to transfer analyst Dean Jones, Nottingham Forest will now need a’minor miracle’ to keep Brennan Johnson at the club beyond the summer window.
Johnson was part of the Forest team that kept their Premier League status, although he has since attracted interest from other top-flight clubs.
Local lad Johnson, one of their favorite sons, performed throughout the 2022/23 season as Forest escaped relegation to the second division despite the odds being stacked against them.
The Nottingham-based club will now be anxious to avoid second-season syndrome when the game returns in August after their debut season in the Premier League this century.
However, it appears that Forest’s chances of surviving next season could be jeopardized before a ball is even kicked, as interest in crucial player Johnson heats up.
According to The Telegraph, Brentford made a failed £30 million bid for the attacker, making him the Bees’ most expensive signing of all time.
Brentford, who finished in the top half of the Premier League last season, are said to want to make Johnson a vital member of their squad, with the west Londoners hoping for a surprise European finish next season.
While Forest may have laughed at Brentford’s £30 million offer, there are concerns that it may simply be postponing the inevitable.
When asked about the anticipated outcome for Johnson this summer, transfer insider Jones was pessimistic about Forest’s chances of keeping him.
Jones said of the 21-year-old’s future: “Forest might be able to knock this one back, but I think they’ll find it more difficult to get through as the months pass.” It’d be a small miracle if they could keep Brennan Johnson for the remainder of the transfer window, but they’ll give it their all.”
Johnson’s adaptability is one of the qualities that make him so important to Steve Cooper’s plans, as he is frequently positioned just behind the striker but also on either flank.
Johnson contributed 10 goals and three assists for the Tricky Trees (Transfermarkt) in 44 appearances across all competitions.
Although his performance was inconsistent at times, WhoScored data show that Johnson averaged at least one shot per game in the Premier League, underlining his threat at the top of the pitch.
While they would most certainly receive a large quantity of money if they sold him, Forest must view keeping one of the fans’ favorites as a priority coming into their second season back in the Premier League.
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