In a surprising turn of events, The Athletic has recently uncovered Atletico Madrid’s unsuccessful attempt to secure the services of Brennan Johnson last summer. Reports indicate that Diego Simeone’s side tabled a bid of £42.9m for the Wales international, only to be rebuffed by Nottingham Forest, who insisted on a hefty £55.8m for their prized asset. This revelation adds yet another layer of intrigue to Johnson’s high-profile £47.5m transfer to Tottenham on deadline day, a move that has since landed Forest in hot water for violating profit and sustainability regulations, resulting in a four-point deduction for the club.
Furthermore, it has been unveiled that Forest spurned three separate offers from Brentford for Johnson before eventually selling him to Spurs, with bid amounts ranging from £32.5m to £40m. The Midlands outfit reportedly explored various avenues to offload the talented 22-year-old, including offering him to Manchester United, though the Red Devils displayed little interest in acquiring the winger at the time.
With Johnson’s well-rounded skillset and exceptional defensive contributions, it is no surprise that Simeone’s interest was piqued by the prospect of adding him to Atletico’s formidable squad. The winger’s all-around abilities and work ethic would likely have made him an ideal fit for the Spanish side’s tactical setup. The failed bid from Atletico Madrid only serves to highlight the competitive nature of the transfer market and the extensive efforts undertaken by clubs to secure promising talents like Johnson.
