Chelsea add Brennan Johnson to target list and ready to let Newcastle buy Hall
Chelsea have added Brennan Johnson to their list of attacking targets and have held initial talks with Nottingham Forest over a move for the winger.
It has been a busy summer for Chelsea, whose quest to balance the books is likely to lead them to agree to sell the 18-year-old left-back Lewis Hall to Newcastle for an initial £28m, and Johnson is one of several offensive players on their shortlist.
The are understood to have activated Michael Olise’s £35m release clause, but it is understood the deal for the Crystal Palace winger is not certain to go through. Palace are unhappy with how Olise has been approached by Chelsea, who insist their behaviour has been above board.
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Discussions over Johnson are at an early stage. The possibility of including players as part of a deal for the versatile Wales international have been discussed with Forest, who value the 22-year-old at about £45m. Johnson, who also has interest from Tottenham and West Ham, played a key role in Forest winning promotion from the Championship in 2022 and he helped them stay in the Premier League by scoring eight goals last season.
If Johnson joins Chelsea he would compete with Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke for a starting place. Mauricio Pochettino wants more depth after losing the France forward Christopher Nkunku to a long-term knee injury and Johnson fits the strategy of targeting young players. It is unclear whether Chelsea’s interest hinges on the outcome of their pursuit of Olise, who is out with a torn hamstring.
Chelsea have spent heavily again this summer and broke the British transfer record for the second time this year when they signed the Ecuador midfielder Moisés Caicedo from Brighton for £115m this week. They are preparing to announce the £58m signing of the Southampton midfielder Roméo Lavia.
The spending under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital is close to the £1bn mark, increasing the pressure to sell players. Hall is set to leave weeks after being offered a new six-year deal, with the option of an extra year. The teenager was initially expected to join Palace on a season’s loan but is instead being allowed to move to Newcastle on a permanent basis.
The decision to sell another academy product will come as a disappointment to supporters who have seen Mason Mount leave this summer. Hall, an England Under-21 international, is a fine prospect and impressed during his appearances last season. Capable of playing at left-back or in central midfield, he is an exciting dribbler and will give Eddie Howe more options as he plots Newcastle’s Champions League campaign.
Hall is likely to have more opportunities at Newcastle. The left-back is behind Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella at Chelsea, who are also in talks with Ian Maatsen over a new deal. Maatsen, a 21-year-old left-back, is wanted by West Ham.
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Questions have been raised over how Chelsea can comply with Financial Fair Play regulations but selling academy products helps their position because money received goes down in the accounts as pure profit. Chelsea could also sell Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who is closing on a move to Fulham.
Thirteen players have left this summer and the Morocco winger Hakim Ziyech is on the brink of joining Galatasaray. Chelsea are looking for a buyer for Romelu Lukaku.