Everton and Crystal Palace agree stunning swap deal as Camara bid rejected

Everton and Crystal Palace have agreed a straigh swap deal involving Dwight McNeil and Brennan Johnson.

Both attackers are set to undergo medical tests today before sealing their respective permanent switches. They are finalising personal terms on initial four-year contracts with the option for an additional 12 months.

McNeil had been on the verge of signing for the Eagles on deadline day in February, only for the transfer to collapse after a dealsheet had been submitted to the Premier League.

The versatile wing-back's partner Megan Sharpley then hit out at the Eagles for messing with McNeil's head, writing on Instagram: "Tonight, and the last 48 hours, have broken my heart to see how the football world you love so much can be so cruel to you.

"To have something promised to you, to have been dragged along on an emotional rollercoaster, and to be toyed with until the final minute.

"To have 4-and-a-half-years of your life promised to you, traveling, medicals, agreements made... promises made. To have prepared to move your entire life, our life 100 of miles away in the space of a few hours.

"For it to be torn away from you at the last second, with absolutely no explanation. Going from everything - to radio silence, no phone call, no communication and be left, broken hearted with nothing but confusion, has hurt more than I can say."

He's now entered the final year of his contract with the Toffees while Johnson, a £35million club-record acquisition from Tottenham, is already poised to embark on a new challenge following a difficult start to life at Selhurst Park where he won the Conference League in May.

David Moyes held extensive talks with the Welshman at the back end of 2025 ahead of his Spurs farewell but Johnson opted to team up with Oliver Glasner, only for the Austrian to confirm his end-of-season exit just two weeks later.

Should the agreement prove to just be a straight swap, Palace are expected to be entitled to add-ons. Everton host their top-flight counterparts on the opening day of the new Premier League season on August 22.

The south east Londoners are also in the process of wrapping up the signing of 21-year-old wide player Anan Khalaili from Union St.Gilloise.

He had been on course to sign for Inter Milan earlier this summer but failed a medical with the Italian champions, so there is still work to be done before his Eagles transfer is official.

Meanwhile, Pierre Sage's side, who are battling UEFA squad cost ratio rules - clubs can only spend the equivalent of 70 per cent of their revenue on wages, transfers and agent fees - are also in the hunt for 22-year-old Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara.

Senegal international Camara played 64 minutes on Sunday as Monaco came back from 2-0 down to defeat Liverpool 3-2 in a friendly at Anfield.

However, several Premier League clubs have now initiated contact with the Ligue 1 side to discuss the terms of the deal.

Monaco have already rejected one bid, believed to be from Palace, though the value of said offer is not clear despite claims it was worth just shy of £43m.

Glasner's Nottingham Forest are also thought to be keen, while Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle have also been tracking the highly-rated ball-winner.

Monaco are expected to ratify one more major sale after recently offloading star attacker Maghnes Akliouche to European champions PSG.

Folarin Balogun is attracting strong interest also and Arsenal have a 17.5 per cent sell-on clause for the USMNT centre-forward, who impressed at the World Cup.

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