Everton may now have had their hopes of signing Nottingham Forest midfielder Brennan Johnson completely dashed.
News emerges from The Athletic that Brentford have had a bid of £30m rejected by Steve Cooper’s side, now Everton may well be priced out of a move for the 22-year-old.
A price tag of £40m had previously been reported, however it is now believed that Forest may hold out for as much as £50m for Johnson’s signature.
It remains to be seen what kind of transfer kitty Sean Dyche will have this summer and the Blues could well have to sell to buy, with Belgian Amadou Onana linked with a move elsewhere.
Indeed, Forest’s revised price tag could be out of the Blues reach, but such an addition could be invaluable to Everton.
Sean Dyche must add goals to his side, and is said to admire the rapid Wales international, who is ranked amongst the fastest players in the English top-flight.
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Johnson might be unreachable now, but would be a brilliant signing for Everton
Brennan Johnson scored 10 goals in 44 games in all competitions for Forest last season, with eight of those goals coming in the Premier League.
Such a return for the Toffees would have seen Johnson rank as Everton’s top scorer, and fans may remember that the 22-year-old scored a brace against the Blues in March’s 2-2 draw.
Everton must invest wisely this summer and Johnson would be a superb addition to the squad, but with interest from Aston Villa, West Ham and of course Brentford, the Forest man is a sought-after player.
Having had such a stellar season, no doubt Nottingham Forest will want to keep their star man, and a £50m price tag might just be enough to put potential suitors off.
However, should Everton sell Amadou Onana, Brennan Johnson could be a fantastic replacement, provided another club doesn’t beat the Blues to his signature.