Spurs wanted to sign £55m star for Ange but ended up with Brennan Johnson

It has been a busy begin to the season for Tottenham Hotspur this yr.

Ange Postecoglou’s facet did not get off to the very best of begins with a draw towards Leicester Metropolis and losses to Newcastle United and Arsenal, however within the final couple of weeks, issues have circled.

Following their dramatic victory over Coventry Metropolis within the League Cup, the North Londoners at the moment are on a four-game win streak, with their most spectacular approaching Sunday afternoon as they dismantled a sorry Manchester United workforce at Outdated Trafford.

There have been a number of stand-out performers on the day, however considered one of them, Brennan Johnson, has develop into the face of the membership’s spectacular turnaround this month, and apparently, the membership nearly signed another person earlier than they picked him up final summer time.

Brennan Johnson’s Spurs profession

After a stellar marketing campaign with Nottingham Forest within the 22/23 season, during which he scored ten goals and provided three assists in 44 appearances, Spurs spent around £47.5m on Johnson in an thrilling deadline day deal final summer time.

Nonetheless, he did not get off to the very best of begins in North London, and by the point Christmas Day rolled round, the Welshman had a reasonably paltry haul of three assists and a single goal in 12 league appearances.

Fortuitously, issues shortly circled for the Nottingham-born ace, as with extra recreation time got here a greater degree of output, and by the season’s finish, he had racked up an affordable tally of five goals and ten assists in 34 appearances, equating to a aim involvement on common each 2.26 video games.

This season has already been stuffed with ups and downs for the 23-year-old. Despite the fact that it is simply early October, he endured a droop in type, throughout which he deactivated his Instagram account, however has now come out the opposite facet as one of the in-form wingers within the nation.

Within the final 4 video games, Johnson has found the back of the net in each and now seems to be like an actual risk each time he has the ball at his ft, which is not one thing that may be mentioned of the participant they nearly signed earlier than him final summer time.

Spurs nearly signed Jeremy Doku

Sure, earlier than he made his approach to Manchester Metropolis, Spurs have been considered one of a number of English golf equipment chasing Belgian winger Jeremy Doku final summer time.

In response to a report from the Independent in mid-August 2023, the Lilywhites have been named as one of many Premier League sides very eager on touchdown the then-21-year-old’s signature, who had simply come off a fairly spectacular season for Ligue 1 outfit Stade Rennais, during which he scored seven goals and provided four assists in 35 video games.

Nonetheless, only a week later, City paid a whopping £55.4m for the teen’s signature, and whereas he admitted that it was the prospect to work underneath Pep Guardiola that led him to the Etihad, we might be prepared to wager that the inflated value is among the causes Daniel Levy and Co stepped away from the deal.

Now, that’s not to say that the dynamic “diamond”, as dubbed by Kevin de Bruyne, is not a proficient participant; he clearly is, however contemplating the £7.9m distinction between his value and Johnson’s, it may very well be argued that the North Londoners acquired the higher deal.

For instance, whereas he had one merely sensational league recreation towards Bournemouth during which he scored as soon as and supplied 4 assists, the Borgerhout-born gem ended his first marketing campaign in England with a haul of six goals and 11 assists in 43 appearances, which equates to a median of a aim involvement each 2.52 video games, which is barely worse than what the Spurs ace may muster.

Furthermore, thus far this season, there hasn’t been any competitors in any respect, as the 29-capped Belgian has one goal in eight games in comparison with the Welsh worldwide’s 4 in eight.

Finally, we’re certain that Postecoglou would like to have a participant like Doku in his squad, however primarily based on Johnson’s type in direction of the backend of final season and over the previous few weeks, we reckon Spurs signed the proper winger.