Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to formalise their interest in the highly sought-after Nottingham Forest starlet Brennan Johnson, the Daily Mail reports.
They are one of several Premier League clubs vying for the 22-year-old winger but will have to match Forest’s £50 million demands.
Johnson has three years left on his contract with the Tricky Trees, so they are under no pressure to sanction his departure, especially with just over a week left until the transfer window closes.
Forest have shown no willingness to negotiate a lower fee for the Wales international winger who came up through their youth ranks before establishing himself in the first team.
Chelsea, Brentford and West Ham United have also been linked with a move for Johnson, whose performances for Forest over the past few years have not gone under the radar.
The former Lincoln City loanee was vital to Forest’s top-flight survival last season, featuring in every Premier League game and repaying Steve Cooper’s faith with eight goals and three assists.
Only Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi scored more goals than Johnson as Cooper’s side finished two places and four points above the relegation zone.
Johnson is yet to open his goalscoring account this term but could find himself playing for one of the top sides in the division before the end of the month.
Forest have already rejected two bids from Brentford, with the latest standing at £40m, but the club are determined to pocket at least £50m for their home-grown starlet.
The Bees seem to have turned their attention to other targets, with a move for Fiorentina’s Nico Gonzalez already in the works, but Spurs could still have a fight on their hands as they pursue a deal for Johnson.
However, they have been handed a massive boost in their quest to land his signature amid reports suggesting he will favour a move to Tottenham over joining Chelsea or West Ham.
