Swansea defender Kyle Bartley has starred on loan at Leeds United this season.
According to Wales Online, Swansea City have no recall clause in the contract of Leeds United ace Kyle Bartley, with fans keen to see him return to the Liberty Stadium.
Bartley, 25, left Arsenal to join Swansea in 2012, but he made just 26 appearances for the club in all competitions – of which just 16 came in the Premier League – before being farmed out on loan to Leeds United.
Christian Benteke in action with Swansea’s Kyle Bartley
Under his former Swansea boss Garry Monk, Bartley has been a star at Elland Road. The 6ft 4in centre back has hit four goals in 28 games, and has formed a sensational defensive partnership with Pontus Jansson.
Leeds have impressed defensively this term, and Bartley is a major reason for that – but Swansea’s defence has struggled massively so far this season.
Leeds’ Kyle Bartley
Having sold Ashley Williams to Everton, Swansea have now leaked 45 goals in just 20 Premier League games, giving them the division’s worst defensive record, with 14 goals conceded in the last five games alone.
Whilst the likes of Mike van der Hoorn, Jordi Amat, Alfie Mawson and Federico Fernandez have yet to forge strong partnerships at the back, and Swansea fans – as seen below – have been calling for new manager Paul Clement to bring Bartley back to the club to solve Swansea’s defensive problems.
The problem for Swansea is that chances of bringing Bartley back to the Liberty Stadium look slim at best. Wales Online report that there is no recall clause in the deal that sent the centre back to Elland Road, and an ‘unlikely agreement’ would be needed if new boss Clement did want Bartley back in South Wales.
It’s stated that Leeds, Swansea and Bartley himself would all have to agree to end the current loan deal, and with Monk’s men battling for promotion to the Premier League, Bartley won’t be allowed to walk away any time soon.
Leeds will even be hoping that they can secure a permanent deal for Bartley this year, as his partnership with Jansson is one of the best centre back duos the club have had in many years, and keeping them together would be a huge boost for manager Monk.
How impressed have you been with Bartley this season?
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