Crystal Palace and Everton discuss potential swap deal involving McNeil and Johnson

Crystal Palace and Everton are in active discussions over a potential player swap that would see winger Dwight McNeil head to Selhurst Park while Brennan Johnson moves to Goodison Park. The talks, first reported by journalist Alan Nixon, represent a creative solution for two clubs trying to solve different problems with the same transaction. What’s on the table The proposed swap would involve McNeil, 26, a left winger who has been a consistent performer for Everton, heading south to Crystal Palace. Going the other direction would be Johnson, 25, a right winger who Palace signed from Tottenham in January 2026 for a club-record fee of roughly £35 million. That’s a significant gap in recent transfer valuations. Johnson cost Palace nearly double what McNeil’s standalone deal was worth when the clubs last negotiated, which means any swap would likely require additional structuring to bridge the difference. A January deal gone wrong During the January 2026 transfer window, Crystal Palace agreed to a £20 million fee for McNeil. The winger traveled, completed his medical examinations, and by all accounts was ready to become a Palace player. Then, on the final day of the window, the deal co...