Crystal Palace and Everton have agreed a straight swap deal involving Brennan Johnson and Dwight McNeil, six months after an earlier attempt to bring McNeil to Selhurst Park collapsed amid controversy. The move comes as Johnson has struggled to make an impact since his January move from Tottenham, while it finally resolves a saga that began when McNeil's partner publicly accused Palace of damaging the winger's mental health after they pulled out of a prior deal.

Johnson became Palace's record signing in January at £35m but failed to score in 18 Premier League appearances and is not part of new manager Pierre Sage's plans; he is on a lucrative contract believed to exceed £100,000 a week, meaning Palace take a financial hit but shed a high earner. McNeil, entering the final year of his Everton deal, had a £20m move to Palace agreed in February before the club withdrew after the collapse of Jean-Philippe Mateta's transfer to Milan. Both players are reported to have agreed four-year contracts with a further year's option, with medicals expected on Monday; Palace are also finalising a £21m signing of right-back Anan Khalaili from Union Saint-Gilloise.