Sheffield United have made a £3.5 million bid for Reading play-maker John Swift although, according to Berkshire Live, the Premier League outfit face a battle with Leeds United for his signature.
Marcelo Bielsa doesn’t often give much away in his press conferences, but the enigmatic tactician could not help himself when asked for his reaction to Swift’s all-action display during a 1-0 Leeds victory back in February.
“Swift is a great player, I value him a lot,” Bielsa mused, as reported by Berkshire Live.
“He is a player who appears suddenly in attack and the same in transition between defence and attack, but especially when he passes from the defence to the attack.”
Swift performed a diligent man-marking job on the night, restricting the influential Matuesz Klich to a backseat role at Elland Road.
But there is more to the former Chelsea youngster’s game than just hounding down the Poland international like a dog chasing its tail.
A talented ball-player, Swift has produced five goals and ten assists for a mid-table Reading side in 2019/20.
With his technical skills, boundless energy and defence-splitting passes, he looks tailor-made for ‘Bielsa-ball’ – especially as 35-year-old talisman Pablo Hernandez can no longer play every minute of every game.
Leeds will have to fight off competition from Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United, however, who have allegedly made a £3.5 million bid.
Reading are understandably desperate to keep their star man but, with financial problems looming, Mark Bowen may be powerless to prevent Swift’s departure.
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