'I watched Brennan Johnson closely and this is why Everton have made a mistake'

Crystal Palace and Everton have agreed a swap deal for Brennan Johnson and Dwight McNeil with all parties keen on the switch.

Johnson, 25, has struggled to make an impact since his move to Selhurst Park in the January transfer window and the Eagles are now prepared to cut their losses on his exit.

Meanwhile, McNeil, 26, has been a long-term target for Crystal Palace, who nearly signed him in January, while Everton have been open to his sale for the last 12 months.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that while the deal may come as a surprise from the outside, Crystal Palace will benefit most from the agreement.

Concerns about Johnson's attitude, work rate and consistency have plagued his time at Selhurst Park, and despite the arrival of Pierre Sage, Palace are keen to move him on.

While Everton will receive a player who moved for £35million just seven months ago, without having to spend a penny, it remains to be seen if they can get the best out of him.

Why are Crystal Palace looking to sell Brennan Johnson?

Football Insider exclusively revealed that Johnson has been offered to a number of Premier League clubs, with Everton always seen as the front-runners despite rival interest.

The Wales international failed to establish himself at Selhurst Park, where he failed to score and provided just two assists in 26 appearances across all competitions.

Everton will hope to get him back to his best, but with Palace having been keen to shift him and bring in McNeil, a swap deal is playing straight into their hands.

"I've never been convinced by Brennan Johnson," Brown told Football Insider.

"He's far too inconsistent, and it's been an issue since the first time I watched him play, that was in an under-21 game and even then he didn't look up to sratch.

"He doesn't work hard enough to get involved in games, he's not amazing technically, and you've seen at Palace how little impact he has had.

"Dwight McNeil hasn't exactly pulled up trees at Everton, but I can see him being more of an asset to Crystal Palace than Johnson has been.

"It looks like they're prepared to hold their hands up, cut their losses, and they might now be getting the best out of the situation by bringing in another player in exchange.

"It's a deal that certainly works for Palace, because they're getting a player on big wages off of the books, and bringing in somebody who they have been after for a while.

"From an Everton point of view, they're getting a player who went for £35million in January, for nothing, but now the question is about whether they can get him to perform."

Why are Crystal Palace targeting Dwight McNeil?

Crystal Palace's interest in McNeil is nothing new, with the Eagles having explored a deadline day move to sign him in the mid-season window, before the dael fell through.

At the time, McNeil and his family had been left disappointed by the decision, but it looks like they may get their wish to join Crystal Palace after all.

Brown told Football Insider following the collapsed move that Crystal Palace would revisit their interest in McNeil when the summer window opened, and that is now the case.

The Eagles pulled the plug at the 11th hour, despite having agreed terms with all parties involved and with the player having undergone a medical.

Now, though, McNeil looks like he is finally set for his move to Selhurst Park, where he will be seen as an asset to Sage's side in place of the struggling Johnson.