Brentford secured a top-half finish under Thomas Frank last season, but the Bees have higher aspirations this season. The club has been busy so far this transfer window, adding Nathan Collins, Kevin Schade and Mark Flekken on permanent deals. They aren’t done, though, and Brentford are poised to break their transfer record as they eye up Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson.
John Percy of The Telegraph is reporting that Nottingham Forest has turned down Brentford’s latest £35m bid for Brennan Johnson. The total package of the proposal could’ve risen to £40m, but Forest has not entertained the offer. Percy states that Forest wants at least £50m, which is a substantial price for any Premier League club, let alone Brentford, who are smart with their money. A club often hailed as football’s ‘Moneyball’ side; it’s hard to believe a scenario where Brentford will spend that much money on a single player.
That doesn’t mean Brentford won’t give up their pursuit of Brennan Johnson, though. Thomas Frank is a big fan of the forward, and Percy believes that Brentford’s interest in the player dates back multiple seasons when Forest was still in the Championship. With star striker Ivan Toney suspended for eight months, Brentford wants to find an immediate solution which has landed them at Johnson. Toney scored 20 goals last season for Brentford, and to build off of last season, those goals need to be replaced.
Brennan Johnson, a Welsh international, enjoyed a positive first Premier League campaign. After coming off back-to-back phenomenal seasons in the Championship, Johnson netted eight goals and recorded three assists last season in the Premier League. Johnson can play anywhere in the front line, often operating as a number ten behind the main striker. He has plenty of experience leading the line centrally, having played as a centre-forward at times for Forest last season.
It is yet to be seen whether Brentford will send another bid close to Forest’s valuation of Brennan Johnson.