Tottenham believe they can line up a successor to Johnson, with the potential signing drawing comparisons to Gareth Bale thanks to his explosive and dynamic style.
Tottenham Hotspur need to show tangible progress in the second half of the 2025/26 campaign. Currently sitting 13th in the Premier League at the halfway stage, Spurs are still searching for a defined style and clear direction under Thomas Frank.
To be fair, the Danish coach walked into a challenging situation. Although Tottenham lifted the Europa League trophy, they finished a worrying 17th in the league last season under Ange Postecoglou, leaving Frank with a significant rebuild on his hands in N17.
That said, the early signs have been underwhelming, particularly in attack, where fluency and cutting edge have been sorely lacking. Improvement is needed fast, and the £35m departure of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace appears to be the first step toward reshaping the squad.
Tottenham identify Brennan Johnson successor
Johnson etched his name into Spurs folklore in Bilbao, scoring the decisive goal against Manchester United to end the club’s long wait for silverware. It marked his 18th goal of the season, but his performances have tailed off dramatically since that moment.
Despite possessing a natural eye for goal, the Welsh winger’s overall displays have failed to convince, prompting Frank to approve his sale. With Johnson now gone, Tottenham must move quickly to find a suitable replacement.
Caught Offside reports that Spurs are growing increasingly optimistic about reigniting their long-standing interest in Manchester City winger Savinho. The Brazilian’s future at the Etihad is uncertain, with Pep Guardiola keen on signing Bournemouth standout Antoine Semenyo.
Tottenham previously enquired about Savinho last summer without success, but a deal could now be possible — though City are expected to demand around £63m.
Why Savinho could thrive in north London
Savinho joined Manchester City from sister club Troyes for approximately £31m in 2024 and made an immediate impact in his first season in English football, showcasing speed, flair and creativity.
However, his role has diminished this term, starting just six league matches.
Even with limited minutes, the 21-year-old still ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for assists, and sits in the top 1% for progressive carries per 90 minutes over the past year, according to FBref. These metrics underline his explosiveness and attacking upside.
City-focused creator Steve McInerney has highlighted Savinho’s “electric burst of pace,” and his profile suggests he could become a standout wide option at Tottenham. Certain elements of his game have even sparked comparisons to Gareth Bale at the height of his powers.
Bale, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his era, left Spurs for Real Madrid in a then world-record transfer in 2013 before returning briefly in 2020/21. While Savinho is not yet at that level, he shares similar traits — raw speed, directness and the ability to change games from wide areas.
A comparison with Johnson over the past year further emphasises the contrast, with Savinho offering greater ball progression, creativity and attacking involvement.
Analyst Ben Mattinson has also pointed to the Brazilian’s knack for drifting past defenders and finishing with authority, reminiscent of Bale’s trademark moments.
Still very much a work in progress, Savinho’s eight assists from just 21 Premier League starts in his debut season underline his potential. It’s also worth noting that Bale himself took time to fully find his feet after arriving from Southampton.
If Tottenham can land Savinho and unlock his full potential, they could finally rediscover the attacking dynamism and intent that has been missing for far too long.