Chelsea are now looking at Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson as their newest target this summer.
That is according to a report from The Guardian.
They claim on Thursday that Chelsea have added Brennan Johnson, 22, to their transfer shortlist of attacking players.
It is explained that the Blues have held initial talks with Premier League rivals Forest about the forward.
The report says that the Wales international is valued at around £45million and Chelsea have discussed the idea of including players as part of the deal to sign him. The conversations are still in the really early stages, though.
In addition, Mauricio Pochettino’s side view Johnson as an option to compete for the wide positions at Stamford Bridge.
Johnson enjoyed a decent debut season in the Premier League last year for Forest, scoring eight goals to help keep them in the division.
He’s a versatile attacker that is capable of playing centrally or on the wings, but the report above mentions Chelsea consider him a wide option.
Described as “fantastic” by Forest manager Steve Cooper (BBC), Johnson is emerging as one of the best youngsters in the Premier League given his importance to one side.
However, this would be quite a sizeable jump moving into an environment with high pressure like Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea would have the division’s fastest forward line if interest ramps up and the Forest man joins.
Manchester City’s Kyle Walker (37.31 km/h), Forest youngster Johnson (36.70 km/h) and Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk (36.63) were recorded as the fastest players in the Premier League last season.
The fact that Johnson ranks quicker on the Premier League website than Chelsea’s rapid left-winger Mudryk is frightening.
We’re excited by the potential and quality of Johnson, who fits in with the mould Chelsea are building, but we don’t see this as a priority. In fact, it may be a bridge too far at this moment in time.
