Everton and Crystal Palace in talks over Brennan Johnson, Dwight McNeil transfers

Everton are in talks to sign Brennan Johnson from Crystal Palace in a deal that could see Dwight McNeil move to Selhurst Park.

Johnson, 25, only joined Palace from Tottenham Hotspur in January, while McNeil, 26, has been at Everton since the summer of 2022. The latter was close to a move to Palace in the winter transfer window, before the transfer fell through due to the relevant paperwork not being completed on time.

However, talks between the two clubs are continuing over a move that would see the two wingers complete transfers.

McNeil has one year remaining on his Everton contract while Johnson has been a long-term target for the Merseyside club, dating back to his spell at Nottingham Forest which preceded his move to Tottenham Hotspur.

McNeil was close to completing a loan move to Palace in January (George Wood via Getty Images)

Johnson joined Palace in a deal worth £35million (€40m; $47m), a then-club record transfer fee, from Spurs earlier this year.

However, the Wales international has failed to make a significant impact at the south London club. He has made 26 appearances, starting 16 games and providing two assists. He was an unused substitute in Palace’s UEFA Conference League final victory over Rayo Vallecano in May.

McNeil, meanwhile, has spent four seasons at Everton since moving from Burnley four years ago. The former England youth international, who previously spent time in Manchester United’s youth academy, has scored 15 goals and provided 19 assists in 128 games for the Merseyside club.

Last season, the versatile winger, who has also been deployed in attacking midfield roles, was deemed surplus to requirements at Everton. McNeil saw a deadline day loan-with-obligation move to Palace collapse late in the window. He had undergone a medical and a deal sheet had been filed, granting Palace a further two hours after the deadline to complete the move, but the final paperwork never arrived. The deadline passed without further communication from the south London club.

McNeil shared a lengthy Instagram post from his partner Megan Sharpley following the collapse of the deadline day deal. The post read: “(To have something) torn away from you at the last second, with absolutely no explanation.

“Going from everything — to radio silence, no phone call, no communication, and be left, broken hearted with nothing but confusion hurts more than I can say.”