West Brom are in advanced talks with Swansea over the signing of defender Kyle Bartley, according to Telegraph reporter John Percy.
The reliable journalist reported on his personal Twitter account on Monday that a £3.5million deal that sees Bartley, 27, head to The Hawthorns could even be wrapped up within days.
On a more positive note for West Brom, talks are advanced with Swansea over a move for defender Kyle Bartley. A £3.5m deal could happen before the weekend #wba #swans
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) July 9, 2018
Bartley spent the 2016/17 season on loan at Championship club Leeds United and his form at Elland Road saw him bag a new deal at the Liberty Stadium, which according to statistics website Spotrac is worth £28,000-a-week.
The 6ft 4in (transfermarkt) colossus spent a lot of last season sidelined with injury though, appearing just 12 times in all competitions as Swansea were relegated from the Premier League alongside West Brom.
Good move for West Brom?
West Brom need defenders – and quick.
Their season starts in less than a month and having already lost Gareth McAuley and Jonny Evans, they could also lose Craig Dawson with him widely-linked with a move back to the Premier League, and Ahmed Hegazi, who reportedly has a £10million release clause.
Bartley is definitely a good signing based on his season where he captained Leeds to a seventh-placed finish in 2016/17, but his injury record from last season is a worry and fans should be wary of that.
This is Futbol rating 8/10
Likely to happen?
West Brom have only signed one player so far in goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, so they need to really push on with additions having seen a lot of players leave.
Bartley seems like he is going to be on his way to the Black Country, and it does look like it will be done soon.
This is Futbol rating 9/10