Brennan Johnson scored one of Tottenham Hotspur's most important goals in recent history last season. The Wales international scored the winner against Manchester United in the Europa League final. This ended Spurs' 17-year trophy drought.
Johnson's form initially continues at the start of this campaign. He scored in both of Tottenham's opening two Premier League games, finding the back of the net in wins against Burnley and Manchester City. Since then, Johnson has only scored in comfortable victories against Copenhagen in the Champions League and Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup.
Johnson was also sent off against Copenhagen, which led to a European suspension. His game time in the Premier League has been limited recently, and he has been left on the bench in London derbies against Fulham and Brentford.
The right-winger who can also play on the left is struggling for game time as he competes with the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert. The 24-year-old may need to leave Tottenham to ensure regular game time, and he has already been linked with rival Premier League clubs.
3 potential landing spots for Brennan Johnson if he leaves Tottenham
Aston Villa
Aston Villa had a bad start to the Premier League season, where they did not win any of their opening five games. However, they are now on the back of seven straight victories. This has meant that they are now well in the title race. Unai Emery's side is just two points behind the leaders, Arsenal.
Villa's position makes them an attractive option for Johnson. They are also competing in the Europa League this season, which is, of course, a tournament in which Johnson has made history. Villa could do with options on the wing, as Evan Guessand is at the Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast. Also, Jadon Sancho has so far failed to make the grade at Villa Park.
Villa signed Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio on loan in January last season. Emery could do with more great mid-season business if he is to keep Villa in the hunt for the Premier League title.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace had looked like a likely destination for Johnson before Villa's interest. They have had great success recently, winning the FA Cup and now competing in the Europa Conference League. However, the problem for Palace is that they keep on selling their best players.
Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze have both departed for Bayern Munich and Arsenal, respectively. The club captain, Marc Guehi, was close to joining Liverpool last summer, and looks set to leave at the end of the season when his contract expires.
Oliver Glasner has worked wonders at Palace, and still has them eighth in the Premier League, despite the recent player departures. To keep Glasner happy and at the club, Palace will have to do business in the transfer window. Signing a player of Johnson's calibre is one way of doing this.
Johnson would face tough competition for a starting spot at Palace. They already have the likes of Ismaila Sarr, Yeremy Pino, and Romain Esse as options on either flank. Regular game time is needed for Johnson to ensure he remains a key player for Wales. Craig Bellamy's side face a World Cup qualifying playoff match with Bosnia and Herzegovina in March, and Johnson will be needed for that.
West Ham United
West Ham United is not currently a desirable option for Johnson, as they are in a relegation battle. The Hammers are in the bottom three and five points off safety. The right-winger's former club, Nottingham Forest, is just above West Ham in the table. Johnson is already a legend at Spurs for his goal in the Europa League final. He could become a hero at West Ham too if he helps keep their Premier League status.
Not often is business done between Tottenham and West Ham due to the clubs' rivalry. However, Kudus did make the switch from the Hammers to Spurs last summer. Perhaps Johnson should have gone the other way as part of the Kudus deal. However, that would have been a quick departure for a player whose goal had just won Spurs a trophy.
At West Ham, Johnson would be an option on the right wing for Jarrod Bowen. The Hammers captain may have to continue filling in as a center-forward in the future, as they lack options up front. The Wales international will also compete with Crysencio Summerville on the left flank. However, signing Johnson would be bad news for Luis Guilherme, who has lacked game time at the Hammers.