Phil Hay has been speaking about what Leeds could do in January on The Phil Hay Show podcast, where he made an interesting revelation.
What’s the story?
Well, The Athletic’s Leeds correspondent said Reading maestro John Swift is a player Marcelo Bielsa admires, and a deal “could be done” in January.
Hay said: “It seems like the sort of option that could be done, in the sort of price bracket they would want to get into, with the sort of player Bielsa likes. He does like Swift, in the same way he liked Lewis O’Brien at Huddersfield.”
Now, this would be a tremendous signing for Leeds, as Swift is exactly what Bielsa needs right now at Elland Road.
After Kalvin Phillips suffered a hamstring injury, Bielsa’s midfield department consists of Mateusz Klich, Jamie Shackleton and Adam Forshaw, with Lewis Bate another option should he be promoted to the first-team.
Pascal Struijk can also play there if need be – evidently, Leeds need a new face or two in the centre-midfield department.
What can John Swift bring to Leeds?
Goals, goals and more goals – Swift would give Leeds added threat in the final third, and take the weight off the forwards.
It’s no wonder he’s been likened to Frank Lampard, arguably the greatest goalscoring midfielder of all time.
It was Outside Of The Boot who made the comparison, when writing a detailed scouting report on the Reading No.10.
After analysing the 26-year-old, they found that Swift’s late runs into the box and shooting technique are comparable to the Chelsea legend.
So far this season, the Portsmouth-born maestro has already scored eight goals in 21 Championship appearances, while also providing nine assists.
Swift is a fantastic player, and if Victor Orta can get a deal done next month, it may turn out to be one of his finest captures in Yorkshire.
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