Reading manager Veljko Paunovic has admitted that retaining the services of John Swift may be easier said than done amid interest from Premier League duo Newcastle and Leeds United, while speaking to Berkshire Live.
Believe it or not, a grand total of 13 Reading players are due to become free agents over the next 12 months or so.
And we are not just talking about bench-warming, second-string squad members either; goalkeeper Rafael Cabral, star midfielder Josh Laurent and talisman Swift are among those who will depart the Madejski Stadium in July 2022 as things stand.
Coupled with Reading’s precarious financial situation – they were placed under a transfer embargo back in July remember – and the challenge of retaining those key players appears just that little bit more difficult.
What next for John Swift?
According to The Star, Newcastle and Leeds are among the clubs keeping tabs on Swift, the former Chelsea youngster in the form of his life with eight goals and six assists from his favoured attacking midfield role.
When addressing the futures of Swift, Rafael, Laurent and co, Paunovic did not exactly ease the fears among a concerned Royals fanbase.
“We have a complicated situation due to our already-known financial situation and (transfer) embargo that we have,” admitted the former Atletico Madrid man.
“We are allowed to negotiate with our players who are ending contracts but it’s not easy in the circumstances, although not impossible.
“So we are aware we have to work on the long term and there are ongoing conversations, even with the players who joined this summer as free agents like Alen Halilovic and Scott Dann.
“But to keep things simple, at this point there is nothing close to closing a deal.”
It is not just the frequency of Swift’s match-changing contributions but the quality of them that has really caught the eye this term. His Ronaldo-esque free-kick against Peterborough had to be seen to be believed and that slaloming solo goal against Blackburn wasn’t bad either.
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