West Brom-linked John Swift in last-ditch contract talks at Reading
Steve Bruce is already seeking players to improve his West Brom squad but Reading are making one last effort to disrupt their pursuit of John Swift.
According to Berkshire Live, the Royals are set to engage in contract negotiations with the 26-year-old for the final time with his deal at the Select Car Leasing Stadium ending this summer.
The Athletic reported just two days ago that the Baggies were making great progress in their attempts to sign Swift but this latest story suggests otherwise.
The 26-year-old scored 11 times for the Royals this season with another 13 assists which played a very big part in keeping them in the division despite a six-point deduction for financial reasons.
It is those same problems that look likely to derail this last attempt with Swift one of the club’s highest earners and he would have to take a big pay cut to stay for next season and beyond.
Replacing him will be tricky too with the club only allowed to sign loan players or free agents due to severe EFL restrictions.
He’s going
After the season he has just had in a struggling team, Swift will surely be prepared to leave Berkshire and look for a new challenge at a club that can challenge the very best in the business.
In Championship terms, there aren’t many better options that The Hawthorns with Bruce looking to build a promotion-winning side next season.
Even if he wanted to stay at Reading, he wouldn’t be likely to take a huge pay cut just to do so when he could go elsewhere and earn far more than he already is at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
When these talks inevitably break down and he becomes available to sign on a free, Bruce has to be the very first at the door of the player and his agent to get ahead of the curve, even if he has to camp out on the side of the road to do so because his creativity is exactly what the Baggies are lacking.
In other West Brom news, this Albion sensation could be set to leave the club without an appearance for the first team after what he posted on social media yesterday.
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