Reading manager Mark Bowen is not surprised by speculation suggesting John Swift is a target for Leeds and Sheffield United this summer, speaking to the Wokingham Paper.
One of the most underrated midfielders in the Championship, a man known as Berkshire’s answer to Zinedine Zidane by the Royals fanbase is finally starting to attract attention from elsewhere.
GetReading reported last week that Leeds are interested in a playmaker who Marcelo Bielsa himself described as a ‘very good player’ – while Sheffield United have apparently made an initial £3.5 million bid to bring Swift to South Yorkshire.
The former Chelsea youngster did his burgoening reputation no harm at all on Saturday either.
He was handed the armband ahead of Saturday’s 5-0 shellacking of Luton Town and responded with a captain’s performance at the heart of midfield.
Bowen would understandably love to keep his star man at the Madejski for another year but he is not exactly shocked by reported interest from elsewhere.
“John Swift is the senior head in the midfield He deserved the armband, he leads by example by being brave and getting on the ball,” the former Stoke City coach says.
“There will be speculation about him because he’s a very good player but I don’t want to hear it.”
With five goals and ten assists to his name this season, there are few midfielders in the Championship who have contributed more frequently in the final third than Swift this season.
And with a work ethic to match his undoubted technical skills, you can see why both Bielsa and Chris Wilder like him.
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