West Brom are “finalising” a £4million swoop to sign Swansea defender Kyle Bartley, according to the Mirror.
The newspaper claimed in their live transfer blog on Tuesday [02:23pm] that Bartley, 27, is being snapped up to replace Jonny Evans, who left to join Leicester earlier in the summer.
It is understood that an announcement on Bartley’s arrival at The Hawthorns will be made within several days, with the Baggies beating Leeds United and West Midlands rivals Birmingham to his signature.
According to statistics website Spotrac, the former Arsenal defender is on a deal worth £28,000-a-week at Swansea.
Good move for West Brom?
Bartley suffered with injury last season, leaving him sidelined for most of the matches as Swansea dropped from the Premier league alongside West Brom.
Would it have been a different story for the Swans if Bartley had managed to stay fit? It might have been.
In the season before, Bartley was on loan at Leeds and was in terrific form.
It’s a rare sight to see a loan player made captain, but the 27-year-old was given the armband by Garry Monk and he led Leeds to a seventh-placed finish.
If he can replicate them performances at The Hawthorns next season, he will be a really clever addition by Darren Moore.
This is Futbol rating 8/10
Likely to happen?
Multiple sources have started to update developments about Bartley’s future and where he will be heading this summer.
It’s a surprise that Swansea would be willing to let him join a Championship rival, especially for £4million, but they may be more desperate to sell players before they welcome more in.
It does look as though Bartley will soon be in the blue and white stripes though, maybe in time for the unveiling of the new away shirt?
This is Futbol rating 8/10