Everton manager David Moyes
Premier League - Everton v Arsenal - Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, Britain - December 20, 2025 Everton manager David Moyes looks dejected after the match REUTERS/David Klein
Everton and Crystal Palace are progressing on a swap deal involving Dwight McNeil and Brennan Johnson, as Paul Joyce reveals the financial details.
McNeil came ever so close to making the move to Selhurst Park during the January transfer window of last season, but a deal fell through at the final hurdle.
Johnson himself made the move to Palace during the January transfer window from Tottenham, but he struggled to make a significant impact in the second half of the campaign.
It always felt like McNeil could be heading through the exit door this summer, with his contract expiring and the fact that he was close to a departure in January.
Johnson, however, only made the move to Palace in January, so an exit already certainly felt unlikely.
Everton boss David Moyes watching on from the touchline
Everton boss David Moyes watching on from the touchline
Everton and Palace swap deal progress
Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
According to reliable journalist Joyce, Everton and Crystal Palace are progressing on a swap deal involving both McNeil and Johnson in the summer transfer window.
It's claimed that the deal would not involve any additional money and is a straight swap between the two players, with medicals potentially taking place as early as Monday.
Everton will be hoping that Johnson can replicate his 2024/25 season with Tottenham, where he scored 18 goals in 51 appearances, including the winner in the Europa League final.
McNeil has also been going through a difficult spell with the Toffees but has shown he can be a creative and goal-scoring threat at times.
The rare straight swap in modern football
Dwight McNeil
It's very rare that you see straight swaps in the modern football era.
You will regularly see players move between clubs, and another goes the other way, but the deals are often treated as separate.
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8 Biggest Swap Deals in Football History
Player
Ashley Cole to Chelsea
Deco to Barcelona
Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United
David Luiz to Chelsea
Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona
Miralem Pjanic to Barcelona
Jermaine Defoe to Tottenham
Jose Antonio Reyes to Real Madrid
It's certainly a deal that feels like it works out more in the favour of Everton than Palace, simply due to the values of the players.
It remains to be seen who will be the biggest success at each club, but either way it appears we are closing in on a rare swap deal.