Kyle Bartley played on loan for Leeds United from Swansea City this season.
One of Leeds United’s best players this season was Kyle Bartley. The defender joined Leeds on a season-long loan deal from Swansea City in the summer of 2016 and was a massive success.
The 25-year-old centre-back formed a formidable partnership with Pontus Jansson in defence and was a key figure in Leeds’s quest for the Championship playoffs.
The former Arsenal prospect will return to his parent club Swansea now that his loan deal has run out, but would he be open to returning to the West Yorkshire outfit next season?
Would Swansea be open to the idea of selling Bartley to Leeds on a permanent contract? Would the Whites be willing to pay the transfer fee the Swans would demand for the central defender?
Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan has given his take on Bartley’s future, suggesting that he is the kind of player that the Elland Road outfit would want in their team next season.
“Kyle Bartley is a funny one,” Whelan told BBC Sport. “If Swansea stay in the Premier League, they probably won’t need him – but if they come down, they might want him.
“I think, if offered, he’d want another crack at Leeds. He likes it here, and he’ll want to be in a successful side.
“He’ll want assurances Leeds will challenge next season and he’s honest and committed. He’s the kind of player you want at this club, and he carries himself in the right way.”
Bartley is an ambitious player, and Leeds will have to give him assurances that they will be challenging for the Championship playoffs next season.
If Swansea do get relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2016-17 campaign, then they might not be willing to part company with a defender who has proved to be a huge success in the Championship.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
