Dean Smith’s Aston Villa were expected to sign Leroy Fer from Championship rivals Swansea City on the final day of the January transfer window.
Graham Potter has suggested that Leroy Fer had no interest in leaving Swansea City on transfer deadline day as a move to Aston Villa fell through at the eleventh hour, as reported by Wales Online.
The Swans’ club captain is facing an uncertain future at the Liberty Stadium with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.
The Sun (3 February, page 61) reports that Aston Villa had entered talks to sign him on the final day of the January transfer window with a bargain deal worth just £2 million expected to be completed before the 11:00pm deadline.
But Fer ended up staying in South Wales as the move collapsed with his Swans teammate Tom Carroll making the move to Villa Park instead.
And, speaking to Wales Online, Swans manager Potter has indicated that a move to the Midlands never really appealed to the 29-year-old Dutch international.
“I don’t think he ever really wanted to leave,” said the former Ostersunds boss, while going on to suggest that Fer was offered a tempting contract by another club, possibly Aston Villa.
“At the same time, at the age he’s at, he might think if there’s an offer of a longer term, significantly more lucrative contract, as a human being, you appreciate there’s at least a decision to be made or something to consider.”
The Sun has suggested that Aston Villa could make a new move to sign Fer when he becomes a free agent while another of Potter’s key players, centre-back Mike Van der Hoorn, is also allegedly a target.
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