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

Everton and Crystal Palace are in talks about a swap deal that would see Toffees' winger Dwight McNeil join the Eagles and Wales international Brennan Johnson move in the opposite direction.

McNeil, 26, nearly moved to Selhurst Park at the start of February when Palace agreed a loan-to-buy deal, which would have turned into a £20m permanent move this summer.

However, the transfer fell through as the required paperwork could not be completed in time, even though McNeil had already passed a medical.

In a social media post, his partner Megan Sharpley had been critical of Palace, writing on Instagram: "We live in a world where everyone is aware of how big a problem mental health is.

"So, in football, why do we find it acceptable because these young men are on a lot of money and that's OK to mess and toy with their mental health and that it's just part of the job?

"To have something promised to you, to have been dragged along on an emotional rollercoaster and to be toyed with until the final minute. For that to be torn away from you at the last second with absolutely no explanation has hurt more than I can say."

But the deal has been revived, with Johnson now involved in the exchange.

The 25-year-old, who has played 45 times for Wales, scored the winning goal for Tottenham in their 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final in May 2025.