‘
On the trail’ – Portsmouth begin sudden swoop for £2.5m-rated West Brom star after failed Derby County talks
Portsmouth are leading the race to sign West Bromwich Albion attacking midfielder John Swift but face competition from several other Championship clubs, as well as teams abroad.
Swift will be leaving The Hawthorns this summer as his West Brom contract is up on June 30 and the club didn’t offer a renewal. The 29-year-old is one of the highest earners as Albion took a gamble on signing him as a free agent from Reading three years ago and his final season wasn’t good enough to justify a new deal.
The decision was made while Tony Mowbray was still in charge as the former West Brom boss rather handily revealed Swift, Grady Diangana and Semi Ajayi would be leaving – well before their departures were officially announced. Of the three, Swift probably had the least left to offer – or at least that’s what many might think after the season just gone.
Portsmouth believe they can reignite Swift’s form, however, and have now begun a swoop to sign him. Our sister publication, The News, Portsmouth, reports Swift is open to an emotional Pompey return this summer, 19 years after he left the club’s academy as a 10-year-old to join Chelsea.
It’s understood Pompey have discussed the possibility of Swift making the move to Fratton Park and he’s so keen on doing so that he’s willing to significantly lower his wage demands. There are a scathe of other Championship clubs pursuing the Gosport lad, however, with four second-tier sides believed to be on his trail.
Not only that, but clubs abroad have been keeping tabs on Swift’s situation. Teams in the Turkish Super Lig, the Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer are all pursuing the soon-to-be free agent.
It’s a move to Pompey which really appeals to Swift, however. The experienced playmaker grew up in Forton and his family still live in the area, so it’s a no-brainer in that sense. Portsmouth also offer a fun project as the club finished 16th in their first season back in the Championship and will be looking to gradually progress up the standings.
If Swift does complete a move to Fratton Park, he will join up with popular head coach John Mousinho who has been targeted by a host of Championship rivals this summer but stayed put. It’s believed Swift would be utilised in his preferred number 10 role, though there could also be scope for him to play out wide as an inverted winger on either side.
Derby County will be among the teams disappointed if Swift heads to Pompey as they were mightily close to signing him back in January. Birmingham World understands the Rams made a deadline day approach and were so near to clinching a deal before it fell through at the last minute.
Swift leaves West Brom with 19 goals and 12 assists to his name in 126 appearances across all competitions. It’s the second-most games he has played for a single club, behind Reading where he scored 34 and assisted 37 in 202 outings. The midfielder has also turned out for Chelsea, Brentford and Swindon Town in the past.
