Tottenham will look to replace Brennan Johnson’s output on the right and left half-spaces through a mix of internal options like Mohammed Kudus, Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons and Dejan Kulusevski (when fit), while also actively targeting a new winger in the January market, with names such as Savinho and Maghnes Akliouche already heavily linked to the club’s shortlist. In other words, there is unlikely to be a single “like‑for‑like” replacement, but a rebalancing of Thomas Frank’s front line built around a new wide signing plus greater trust in the existing attacking core.
A New Puzzle At Spurs After Brennan Johnson’s Exit
Brennan Johnson’s move to Crystal Palace for a reported £35m has done more than just shake up the January headlines – it has forced Tottenham Hotspur into a moment of truth about what kind of attack they want to build under Thomas Frank. Johnson leaves barely a year and a half after arriving as a big-money, high-upside signing, and only months after scoring the decisive goal in a Europa League final, which instantly turned him into a cult figure among Spurs fans.
Yet as Crystal Palace unveil him as their new club‑record signing, Tottenham are left with a crucial question: who actually replaces him – and in what role?
This is not a simple “swap winger for winger” dilemma. It is a deeper tactical and strategic puzzle about balance, profiles, and how Spurs evolve from a lopsided, right-heavy side into a more complete attacking machine.
Why Johnson’s Departure Changes The Equation
To understand the replacement, you have to understand what Johnson really was – and what he was not – for this Tottenham side.
- He was a vertical runner who attacked space rather than a pure touchline winger.
- He thrived in transition, offering depth, pressing intensity and off-the-ball movement into the channels.
- He never quite became the consistent ball-carrying, 1v1 winger Spurs needed on the left, especially once James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski were ruled out long term.
Under Ange Postecoglou, Johnson was supposed to be part of a fluid, interchangeable front line, often starting on the right but drifting into central and left channels, adding chaos and speed. Under Thomas Frank, who inherited an unbalanced squad, Johnson increasingly looked like a “nice-to-have” rather than a system-defining piece.
Reports around Spurs’ January planning make it clear: the club’s priority is a new wide player, particularly someone who can operate from the left and bring more creativity, ball progression and unpredictability. The sale of Johnson is therefore not a surprise; it is a financial and tactical reset.
The Current Attacking Cast: Who Steps Up Internally?
Before any new signing walks through the door, Thomas Frank must decide how to reshuffle what he already has. Spurs, on paper, are not short of attacking talent.
Key names who can help absorb Johnson’s minutes:
- Mohammed Kudus
- Wilson Odobert
- Xavi Simons
- Dejan Kulusevski (when back fit)
- Richarlison
- Randal Kolo Muani
- Mathys Tel
Each offers something different, and that is where the idea of a “replacement” becomes more fluid and interesting.
Mohammed Kudus: The De Facto Right-Side Leader
Mohammed Kudus has already become one of the primary reference points in the Spurs attack.
- He can play off the right, cutting inside to shoot or thread passes.
- He can also occupy central zones as a second striker or attacking midfielder.
- He brings dribbling, power, and a willingness to take responsibility in tight moments.
In many ways, Kudus is the high-ceiling talent Spurs hoped Johnson would evolve into in this system – only he is more comfortable as a ball-carrier and creator, not just a runner into space.
With Johnson gone, Kudus now has an even clearer runway to become the undisputed right‑sided attacking leader, particularly in games where Spurs need someone to break down low blocks rather than just attack space in transition.
Wilson Odobert: The Natural Left-Sided Heir
If Kudus owns the right, Wilson Odobert may quietly become the biggest internal winner on the left.
Odobert’s profile is interesting:
- Naturally comfortable off the left flank, he can drive inside onto his stronger foot or go wide to cross.
- He offers tempo, directness and a decent work rate against the ball.
- He is still raw, but Spurs’ recruitment of him was clearly about long-term upside.
Tottenham’s left side has been a problem area; Johnson, Odobert and even Mathys Tel have all tried and failed to fully lock down the role, while the absence of Maddison has removed a key combination partner in that half-space.
Now, without Johnson as competition and with a new winger likely arriving, Odobert can either:
- Cement himself as the high-energy squad option who rotates heavily.
- Or, with a strong run of form, make a statement that Spurs might not need to overspend on a big-name left winger.
Xavi Simons: The Between-The-Lines Problem-Solver
Xavi Simons has been labeled a disappointment in some quarters, but the broader context of Spurs’ dysfunctional attack makes that verdict premature.
Simons is not a touchline winger in the Johnson mould.
- He prefers occupying pockets between the lines.
- He thrives when there is structure around him and runners ahead of him.
- He can technically play off either flank or as a No. 10.
If Frank leans into a more possession-heavy structure, Simons and Kudus could become the creative heartbeat, with Simons drifting left and Kudus working from the right to feed a central striker like Richarlison or Kolo Muani.
In that kind of setup, replacing Johnson is less about finding another direct runner and more about maximising combinations between technically gifted creators.
Dejan Kulusevski: The Missing Piece
The elephant in the room is Dejan Kulusevski.
Injuries have kept him out this season, and his absence has robbed Spurs of:
- A physically strong, left-footed creator from the right.
- A ball-protecting winger who can slow the game down and pick the right pass.
- Someone who can link midfield to the final third, especially when Maddison is not available.
If Kulusevski returns to anything close to his earlier levels, Spurs’ need for a direct “Johnson replacement” shrinks considerably. Instead, the club can focus on a left‑sided winger who complements Kudus and Kulusevski rather than duplicating Johnson’s profile.
External Options: Names On Tottenham’s Radar
The other part of the equation is recruitment. Johnson’s sale brings in a significant fee, wage space, and – crucially – a freed-up attacking slot.
Reports around Spurs’ scouting and January planning suggest several key themes:
- A top‑quality winger is high on the list, especially to balance the attack from the left.
- Spurs want someone who can add invention, unpredictability and end product.
- The club has a shortlist of high-upside talents who can grow in value.
Among the names linked:
- Savinho (Manchester City)
- Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco)
- Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig)
All three are viewed as players who could “change the course of their season”.
Savinho: The Headline-Grabbing Dream
Savinho has already been a recurring name around Spurs.
- Left-sided or right-sided winger.
- Electric pace, sharp dribbling, and the ability to break defensive structures on his own.
- Proven productivity in a high-level system, with Manchester City closely involved in his development.
Spurs tried to sign him previously and are expected to remain in the race when opportunities arise. If Tottenham could finally land him, the “who replaces Johnson?” debate would almost feel redundant – Savinho is a level above in terms of one‑on‑one threat and raw intimidation factor for defenders.
He would likely start from the left, allowing Kudus or Kulusevski to command the right, and instantly give Spurs the kind of transition and ball-carrying threat they have lacked since Johnson’s form dipped and Son Heung‑min’s role shifted more centrally in earlier seasons.
Maghnes Akliouche: The Creative Wildcard
Maghnes Akliouche offers a different flavour.
- More of a playmaking wide midfielder or attacking midfielder.
- Comfortable drifting inside to orchestrate play rather than just attacking the byline.
- Fits a model where Spurs want more control and combination play around the box.
If Spurs see their future less as a pure transition side and more as a possession-and-pressure team, Akliouche would be a clever way of replacing Johnson’s minutes with extra technical quality and final-third intelligence.
Yan Diomande and Others: The High-Upside Projects
Yan Diomande at RB Leipzig is another name on the list, reflecting Spurs’ interest in players who combine athleticism, youth, and tactical intelligence.
These types of targets show a clear pattern:
- Spurs are hunting multi-functional wide forwards who can play inside or outside.
- They want to grow value, not just buy finished stars.
- Any signing is expected to mesh with Kudus, Simons, Kulusevski and Odobert, not block them completely.
In that sense, the “replacement” for Johnson might be less a single name and more a carefully chosen profile that unlocks the rest of the attack.
How Spurs’ Front Line Could Look Post-Johnson
Looking ahead to the second half of the season and beyond, several front‑line structures stand out as realistic for Thomas Frank.
Scenario 1: Savinho Arrives, Kudus Becomes The Right-Side Killer
Front three in big games:
- Left: Savinho
- Right: Mohammed Kudus
- Centre: Richarlison or Randal Kolo Muani
In this model:
- Savinho gives Spurs an elite 1v1 threat on the left.
- Kudus drifts inside from the right, combining with Simons or Maddison between the lines.
- The central striker focuses on penalty-box movement and hold-up play.
Here, Johnson’s role as a transition runner is not replicated by one player; instead, Spurs gain two elite-level ball carriers and dribblers who can both create and score.
Scenario 2: No Big Signing, Odobert Seizes His Moment
If the market proves difficult – or if Spurs decide to push their big attacking spend to the summer – internal evolution becomes key.
Front options could then look like:
- Left: Wilson Odobert / Mathys Tel
- Right: Mohammed Kudus / Dejan Kulusevski (post‑injury)
- Central: Richarlison / Kolo Muani / Tel
In this shape:
- Odobert’s minutes rise sharply, especially in the league games where Spurs expect to dominate possession.
- Kudus and Kulusevski share right‑sided duties depending on the opponent.
- Simons floats behind the striker, connecting into both wide players.
Johnson’s departure then becomes almost like a vote of confidence in Odobert and Simons – a belief that their development will give Spurs more technical security than Johnson’s streaky finishing and transitional threat.
Scenario 3: Akliouche Arrives, Spurs Go More “Control-Based”
Another tactical shift could see Spurs evolve into a team built more around control and circulation, especially if they feel their defensive structure is strong enough to allow more creative freedom in higher areas.
A front four in a 4‑2‑3‑1 might look like:
- Left: Akliouche (inverted creator)
- 10: Simons or Maddison
- Right: Kudus or Kulusevski
- 9: Richarlison or Kolo Muani
This setup reduces the reliance on pure sprinters and instead overloads the half-spaces with technicians. Johnson’s exit would then symbolise a stylistic shift as much as a simple squad change.
Why There Might Never Be A Single “New Brennan Johnson”
One of the quirks of modern football discourse is the obsession with one-for-one replacements. A player leaves, and the immediate demand is: “Who is the next version of him?”
In Tottenham’s case, that framing does not quite fit.
- Johnson’s biggest strengths – pressing, vertical running, and willingness to attack space – are valuable but not unique in a squad already featuring Kudus, Odobert and pacey centre-forwards.
- Spurs’ biggest problem is not a lack of runners; it is a lack of consistent creativity and balance across both flanks, especially without Maddison and Kulusevski.
So Tottenham’s plan appears to be:
- Use Johnson’s sale to fund either a higher-level wide signing like Savinho or a more technical, control-based option like Akliouche.
- Trust Kudus to become the main right-sided star.
- Give Odobert and Simons more responsibility, rather than blocking them with another transitional runner.
In that context, Johnson is not so much replaced as redistributed. His minutes, zones and responsibilities are spread across multiple players with higher ceilings or better fits for Thomas Frank’s long-term blueprint.
The Real Answer: A Collective Replacement
So, after Brennan Johnson’s move to Crystal Palace, who might take his place at Tottenham?
The truth is that there will likely be three layers of replacement:
- Mohammed Kudus grows fully into the right-sided leader and main attacking reference in wide areas.
- Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons absorb more minutes on the left and in the half-spaces, offering a more technical and unpredictable blend than Johnson’s direct style.
- A new winger signing – ideally someone like Savinho or Akliouche – arrives to give Spurs the star power and balance they currently lack on the left.
In other words, Johnson’s place will not be taken by a single individual but by a reimagined front line built around a clearer hierarchy and a more coherent blend of profiles. That might be the best sign yet that Tottenham have learned a hard lesson from recent windows: the goal is not to replace a name, but to build an attack that finally fits together.
~~~ By Dribble Diaries
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