With the transfer window opening tomorrow, Johansson would be free to move during January if his club is tempted by Latics' cash offer.
Jewell has flown to Sweden on a number of occasions to watch the 26-year-old, who has been capped by Sweden 12 times and played at Euro 2004.
And he has been suitably impressed to plunge into the foreign transfer market having previously restricted his buying to British shores.
Jewell said: "We have an offer in for the lad and we're waiting for his club to come back to us.
"He's a good player, an international, and I think he would be a great addition to our squad if we can get a deal sorted out.
"He obviously can't come until the transfer window opens tomorrow but I would imagine it will be a couple of days before we hear whether a deal is on.
"We have looked and looked in this country for suitable players and now we have cast the net further in our search to strengthen.
"On Sundays when most people have been having a day off, I have been to watch matches in Scandinavia, and I even got fog-bound there once!"
Jewell is also hoping to land other transfer targets in the coming month, but former Celtic and Ipswich midfielder Bobby Petta isn't one of them.
"I enquired about Bobby when he left Celtic earlier in the season and spoke to his agent," said Jewell.
"But he couldn't come until the transfer window even though Celtic had paid him up, and now we have moved on to other targets."
Jewell will put his transfer dealings to one side tomorrow when Latics visit Sheffield United (kick-off 3pm).
He's hoping the trip to Bramall Lane can halt a run of three defeats which has cost them a place in the automatic promotion places.
Latics will be boosted by the return of striker Jason Roberts after a one-match ban, while Jewell is considering freshening up the team for their third game in six games.
He said: "I've got one or two changes in mind because a couple of the players might need a bit of a rest.
"I gave Matt Jackson a rest the other day at Burnley, Ian Breckin will be suspended against Wolves next week, so people are getting their chance.
"Tomorrow's game won't be one for the faint-hearted because there will be a big crowd and two good teams trying to win the game.
"Sheffield United are a big club and their manager Neil Warnock says he now has the best squad since he took over there.
"I believe him because they've got Andy Liddell there, who we all know about, as well as a number of match winners in their side.
"They're on a good run at the moment, it's a good test for us, and I always get a nice warm welcome there so I'm looking forward to it."
It will be the first time Liddell has played against Latics since moving to the Blades on a Bosman free transfer in the summer.
Jewell, though, has kept in touch with the club's record league scorer and is looking forward to seeing him in action tomorrow.
He said: "Lids is a great lad, I've a lot of time for him, and I probably speak to him more now than when I was his manager!
"I like to think I helped him get the move to United because I spoke to Neil Warnock about him in glowing terms when it became apparent he was leaving here.
"Lids was a fantastic player for Wigan, and I hope he plays well tomorrow but gets beat."