Leeds United are reportedly keen on signing Kyle Bartley from Swansea City this summer.
It would have excited Leeds fans back in May when the Yorkshire Evening Post reported that Kyle Bartley was keen to leave Swansea amid speculation linking the defender with a return to Elland Road. The report suggested that Leeds were his first choice despite another former club, Rangers, also having a look.
But with Swansea ultimately being relegated and soon parting company with Carlos Carvalhal, Whites fans would have been forgiven for being left concerned that their chances of signing Bartley could be about to be dented or dashed altogether depending on the next manager’s plans.
The Swans have now confirmed that Graham Potter is the man charged with taking the club back to the Premier League, and while he did not mention Bartley specifically during his first press conference, perhaps there were some comments made that should leave Leeds supporters feeling a lot more optimistic about a potential summer deal.
When asked about Alfie Mawson’s and Lukasz Fabianski’s futures at the Liberty Stadium, Potter suggested, in comments reported by Wales Online, that the door is open for any players who wish to go this summer.
“We need to assess, any player who leaves has to go on right terms for the club but we don’t want players who don’t want to be here. We have to make balanced decisions, that process has started already, but we want players proud to represent Swansea,” he said, as reported by Wales Online.
Of course, Bartley may plan to consider all options now that Potter has been appointed, but the comments certainly suggest that there is scope for a deal – which the Yorkshire Evening Post is likely to be worth around £4 million – to be done if the defender remains keen on rejoining Leeds.
Potter’s comments certainly hint that the ball could well now be in the Whites’ court if they want to bring Bartley back this summer.
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