Aston Villa make contact with Tottenham Hotspur over January signing of “fantastic” out-of-favour forward

Tottenham Hotspur's Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson. (Reuters/Peter Cziborra)

Tottenham Hotspur’s recent form has been inconsistent—flashes of brilliance in the Champions League have been followed by back-to-back Premier League defeats to Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.

Aston Villa, on the other hand, are in scintillating form, boasting 10 consecutive wins in all competitions and firmly in the hunt for domestic and European honours.

Despite this contrast, Villa are reportedly eyeing a move for one of Spurs’ fringe stars.

Aston Villa have made contact with representatives of Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson regarding a potential January move.

The 24-year-old Welsh international has struggled for regular game time this season under Thomas Frank, starting just six Premier League matches.

Johnson, however, has shown his quality in the past. During the 2024/25 campaign, he scored 18 goals across all competitions, including the decisive strike in the Europa League final against Manchester United. Former Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou even described him as a “fantastic” player.

Villa see Johnson as a solution to bolster their attacking options. The player could potentially replace Harvey Elliott, whose loan from Liverpool is expected to be cut short in January after failing to fully convince Dean Smith’s successor, Unai Emery.

According to TEAMtalk sources, discussions with Johnson’s agents have advanced, with Villa considering whether to make a formal approach.

Reports suggest a fee in the region of £30–40 million could be enough to secure a permanent move, though a loan deal remains on the table as Spurs look to reshape their squad.

With both clubs open to negotiations, a deal could develop quickly if all parties align.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.