Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has directly addressed the growing speculation surrounding the future of winger Brennan Johnson at the club. The 24-year-old has been linked with a potential January exit, with Premier League rivals Crystal Palace and Aston Villa among the sides reportedly interested.
Frank's Firm Stance on Johnson's Importance
Speaking after Spurs' victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday, Frank was quizzed on the transfer rumours. He offered a clear defence of the player's role, stating: "I think Brennan is very important for us." The Danish manager acknowledged the increased competition for places, particularly following the summer arrival of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham, but insisted Johnson remains a key part of his plans.
Frank explained the challenge of team selection, saying, "Maybe he didn't get many minutes but unfortunately we can only play 11 players." He pointed out that while Kudus has made the right-wing position his own, Johnson has still started a number of games as the team has sought solutions on the left flank.
Johnson's Reduced Role and Suitor's Motives
The transfer talk has been fuelled by Johnson's limited Premier League action. The Welsh international was only a late substitute in the match against Palace and has started just one of Tottenham's last seven league fixtures. This marks a shift from the start of the season, where he scored twice in the opening two games under Frank.
His more consistent game time has come in the Champions League and Carabao Cup, where he has contributed four goals across all competitions this term. However, his league absence has alerted other clubs.
Crystal Palace are cited as a primary admirer, with manager Oliver Glasner known to be seeking more creativity after the sale of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal. Reports from The Athletic have even labelled Johnson as the Eagles' 'main target' for the winter window.
Interest is not limited to Selhurst Park, however. Aston Villa and AFC Bournemouth have also been linked, while Football Insider claims Brentford and newly-promoted Ipswich Town are potential suitors.
Johnson's Rollercoaster Year in North London
Reflecting on a turbulent 2025 in a recent podcast appearance, Johnson described his year as a "real mixture of everything" and likened it to a "rollercoaster" with high highs and tough times. He acknowledged the disruption caused by the managerial change in the summer, with Frank replacing Ange Postecoglou, but highlighted the Europa League win as making it a successful year overall.
Despite the manager's public backing, the concrete interest from multiple Premier League clubs sets the stage for a potentially busy January for the Spurs forward. Whether he remains a part of Frank's core group or seeks more regular football elsewhere will be a major storyline as the transfer window opens.
