Everton's McNeil & Palace's Johnson poised for swap

What the report says

Everton and Crystal Palace are discussing a swap deal that would send Everton winger Dwight McNeil to Selhurst Park and bring Wales forward Brennan Johnson to Goodison Park, with both clubs hoping to complete the move this week, BBC Sport reports. The talks revive a transfer involving McNeil that nearly happened in February, when Palace had agreed a loan-to-buy arrangement that would have become a £20m permanent deal before the paperwork could be completed.

According to BBC Sport, the earlier collapse of that move drew criticism from McNeil’s partner on social media. The new proposal would now include Johnson, 25, in the opposite direction. Johnson joined Palace in January for £35m and, BBC Sport notes, played 26 times without scoring in all competitions, while also being part of the squad that won the club’s first European trophy after success in the Conference League final.

McNeil, 26, signed for Everton from Burnley in 2022 for £20m and has scored 15 goals in 128 appearances in all competitions. The report says Everton finished 13th in the Premier League last season, with Palace two places lower, though Palace will play in the Europa League in 2026-27 after their European success. The clubs are scheduled to meet on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on 22 August.