Tottenham were taken by surprise when an enquiry arrived regarding the availability of the Wales international. Internally, discussions followed, and the club concluded that Johnson was a player they could realistically consider letting go.
Sources indicate Spurs felt they had reached a pivotal moment in Johnson’s development.
With his contract running until 2028, the club began assessing how he fit into their long-term vision. If there was little prospect of pushing towards a new deal in 2026, the feeling was that any genuine interest should be taken seriously.
Crystal Palace were the first club to make contact and were informed that Johnson’s situation could become open.
An initial valuation of £45 million was communicated, with sources suggesting that any offer north of £40 million would represent acceptable business for a player signed just two years ago for £47.5 million.
There are doubts within the club about how well Johnson aligns with the ambition and style Spurs want to project moving into the new year, and the player has been made aware that his future is no longer guaranteed.
Johnson, however, has shown a willingness to fight for his place and has been committed to changing the situation. Despite that resolve, he now has to seriously consider his options after Palace submitted a £35million bid on Tuesday - an offer Tottenham are willing to accept.
The forward has been aware of developments since Monday and has been consulting with those close to him over whether a move to Selhurst Park would be the right fit.
Palace’s own situation remains uncertain, with Oliver Glasner’s future unclear and question marks surrounding key players such as Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton.
Johnson is also waiting to see which other clubs may firm up their interest. Bournemouth and Everton are both in the frame, while sources indicate at least one other Premier League side is monitoring the situation.
Just seven months after scoring the winning goal in Tottenham’s Europa League triumph in May, Johnson’s Spurs career has been turned on its head - and an exit now appears increasingly imminent.
