The Lilywhites could see an inconsistent £25m dud finally ditched following their stellar Deadine Day signing.
Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer window held much importance given it was Ange Postecoglou’s first, and marked the start of what many hope will be a revolution set to expunge the failed tenures of Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo from their recent memory.
Poor recruitment strategies with regard to both players and managers have hampered a club that was once poised to enjoy a long-lasting stay around the top of the Premier League, but already their new manager has begun work on cultivating a new atmosphere, one of positivity and good energy at last.
It is fair to say great strides have already been made towards reaching that goal, with the signings of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and more all aiding in the slowly returning feelgood factor surrounding the Lilywhites.
Therefore, that makes the £47.5m expended on Brennan Johnson an investment many are willing to believe in, given how the former Nottingham Forest flyer was so sought-after by Postecoglou.
Whilst many might baulk at the fee, should he prove to reach his potential and add to their already potent front line, it will take no time at all for that figure to become a coup.
Especially given his presence alone should likely force his teammates to start improving their respective games, knowing that a poor performance will be capitalised upon by the dynamic 22-year-old.
One such early casualty could be Dejan Kulusevski, whose displays on the right wing have left little to be desired after just four league games.
Why did Spurs sign Brennan Johnson?
As aforementioned, the signing of Johnson is one that has drawn plenty of interest, with some questioning such a lofty sum for an unproven asset.
Despite that, pundit Darren Ambrose still remains confident, telling The Transfer Show on Sky Sports: “He will hate me for saying this. But I think Brennan is a better player than his Dad was and he was a fantastic player. But the pace he has got. He must be one of the quickest players in the Premier League. He’s not a like-for-like replacement for Harry Kane. We know that.
“He is more of a wide player. But I think you can integrate him into that number nine role. It’s blase to say £50m isn’t a lot of money. But in the crazy world of football, it’s not that much. I think this would be a fantastic signing for Spurs.”
Those who might laugh at such a deal are likely unaware of just how well-suited the Wales international is to Postecoglou’s system, which demands plenty from the attackers.
He even outlined this back in February, speaking on how he wants his strikers to earn their chances just like Kyogo Furuhashi did at Celtic: “It’s not just about his goals. They are the most important thing, but he works so hard. He’s another that, whatever rewards he gets, they are hard-earned. He’s not floating about just waiting for a chance. He’s running his socks off to do things other strikers won’t do because he knows it’s the right thing for the team.”
Therefore, when comparing Johnson with other forwards across Europe, it is pleasing to see that he sits in the top 9% for progressive carries per 90 as well as the top 11% for tackles per 90 and the top 19% for blocks per 90, via FBref.
That’s without mentioning his eight goals and three assists in the league last season, starring for a side that narrowly avoided the drop in what was his first year in the English top flight.
It should come as no surprise to see him lauded, with his physical assets having been outlined by journalist Ethan Lamb too, who described him as a “speed demon” after being clocked as the fastest player in the Premier League last season.
However, to truly explain why Spurs decided that he was worth spending so much on, it simply takes the glowing testimony of Postecoglou himself: “He’s a real threat in the front third, he’s different from what we’ve already got, he’s young and ambitious. It’s no secret that’s the model for me.
“It’s just as much about the person as well as the footballer, and looking at him he’s going to fit in really well with this group. He’s ambitious and hungry and wants to take his game to the next level. The technical and the physical attributes he has, he should fit in really well.”
