Manchester United had the chance to sign Brennan Johnson but made the right call over the Tottenham Hotspur winger.
United’s activity late in the summer transfer window centred around relatively cost-effective deals.
Altay Bayindir was a bargain basement addition from Fenerbahce whilst Jonny Evans came in on a free transfer.
Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat arrived on loan with one already gone and the other unlikely to stick around.
United’s spending was focused on Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund and a move for Brennan Johnson just wasn’t in mind.
A deal for the Welshman could have been a very emotional one, but United chose not to pull the trigger…
Manchester United were offered Brennan Johnson
Nottingham Forest have been hit with a four-point deduction after breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Forest have noted that they were actively trying to sell Brennan Johnson but a £47.5million deal with Tottenham Hotspur could only be done on transfer deadline day.
In fact, the Premier League’s documentation from their investigation shows that Forest even tried to offer Johnson to United.
It’s stated that Forest – alongside the Unique Sports Management agency – offered Johnson to Brentford, Tottenham, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Atletico Madrid.
There were no nibbles at the time though with United seemingly deciding not to spend on bringing Johnson to Old Trafford.
Brennan Johnson could have landed emotional United move
Johnson and his family may be just a little disappointed at United not making a move.
The Welshman’s father David Johnson was a United youth team star after arriving from Jamaica.
United released Johnson in 1995 and he went on to carve out a superb career with Ipswich Town and Forest.
Johnson junior could have lived out his father’s dream by becoming a United first-team star, but it just wasn’t to be.
Johnson would have also had the backing of David Beckham, with the pair forming an unlikely friendship over the years.
Father David is the connection here, having struck up a friendship with Beckham during their United days.
Johnson following Beckham in becoming a right-sided winger for United would have been quite the story but United made the right decision in not going for him…
United were right not to sign Johnson
United were offered the chance to sign Johnson in June, weeks before landing Mount, Onana and Hojlund.
Striking a deal for him would have ruled out at least one of those deals when a winger simply wasn’t a priority at the time.
Alejandro Garnacho’s rise has justified the move not to sign another winger and United still had hopes for Jadon Sancho at that time.
That obviously hasn’t worked out as hoped but with Marcus Rashford, Antony and a returning Amad Diallo in the mix too, a winger just wasn’t the top priority.
The money was better off spent elsewhere and whilst we haven’t seen the best of Mount yet, adding another midfielder simply had to be a focus over another winger.
Johnson – hailed as ‘very rapid’ by Wales boss Rob Page – is a real talent and maybe the opportunity for a move to United will arise again in the future, but right now, it’s hard to argue against United’s decision not to make a move.