Just last week, Reading manager Veljko Paunovic admitted that he would ‘love’ to see John Swift sign a new, long-term contract at the Madejski Stadium.
So Tuesday’s 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Fulham – the heaviest home defeat in the club’s 150 year history – was the last thing he needed.
As Aleksandr Mitrovic, Harry Wilson and co ran riot in Berkshire, a blur of black-and-white tearing through Paunovic’s backline like a ravenous lion sinking his teeth into a bloody flank steak, Swift could probably have been forgiven for spending much of the final 20 minutes figuring out how best to phrase a transfer request.
Though, with his contract expiring in the summer and a number of Premier League clubs sniffing around, even the most biased, rose-tinted of Reading supporters would probably understand if Swift decided to leap into the lifeboat, escaping from a seemingly sinking ship.
Could Bielsa’s Leeds finally sign John Swift?
According to The Star, the 26-year-old is a transfer target for relegation-threatened Burnley, and a Wolves side who, for much of Bruno Lage’s tenure, have looked about as sharp as a pair of Poundland scissors.
Only one club in the top-flight – and there are no prizes for guessing their identity – have scored fewer goals than Wolves’ 14 in 19 games.
Leeds United, meanwhile, are long-time admirers of Swift, Marcelo Bielsa having described one of the Championship’s most gifted playmakers as a ‘great player’ back in February 2020.
Bielsa tends to bide his time with his transfer targets, waiting for the right moment to pounce.
A case in point; Daniel James finally arrived at Elland Road two-and-a-half years since his aborted switch from Swansea City left Victor Orta weeping with frustration.
One would assume, then, that Swift remains high on Bielsa’s radar.
And if Swift felt that he could achieve his Premier League aims by staying put at Reading, Tuesday’s historic defeat – one that leaves Paunovic’s free-falling side just three points above the relegation zone – must have felt like the most cruel of wake-up calls.
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