Aston Villa are preparing for a potential January transfer battle as they seek to bolster their struggling attack, with Tottenham Hotspur winger Brennan Johnson emerging as a key target.
The Midlands club, which has endured a difficult start to the Premier League season, has already made contact with the representatives of the 24-year-old Welsh international, according to reports.
Villa Face Stiff Competition for Johnson Signature
However, Villa are not alone in their pursuit. Crystal Palace are described as eager to sign Johnson when the transfer window reopens next month. Furthermore, Championship high-flyers Ipswich Town, along with Brentford, are also credited with a strong interest in the player.
The situation at Villa Park has been compounded by the expected early departure of loanee Harvey Elliott. The Liverpool midfielder, who arrived with an obligation-to-buy clause, has fallen out of Unai Emery's plans since October and is set to return to his parent club, creating a vacancy in the squad.
Why Johnson is Expected to Leave Tottenham
Johnson moved to North London from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023 for a fee of £47.5 million. Despite this significant investment, he has failed to cement a regular starting role under manager Ange Postecoglou.
This season, the forward has been limited to just six Premier League starts, often being used as a late substitute or left out of the matchday squad entirely. Former Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness believes this lack of consistent game time will drive a move.
"As a young player, I think he seems to be a confident striker that needs that arm around the shoulder," Wyness told Football Insider. "I expect him to move fairly soon." He identified Palace and Ipswich as the current front-runners for his signature.
Villa's Transfer Strategy and Tottenham's Valuation
Villa's interest is reportedly driven by a desire to add pace and versatility to their forward line. While other clubs may currently be more advanced in their pursuit, the final decision is expected to hinge on which project best suits Johnson's career development.
Critically, Tottenham are understood to be open to selling the player if their valuation is met. It is believed Spurs would demand a fee in the region of £30 million to £40 million to part ways with Johnson, just two years after his big-money arrival.
The coming weeks will determine whether Aston Villa can accelerate their interest into a concrete offer and win the race for a player seeking a fresh start and regular first-team football.
