Phil SumblerThe future of Matt Grimes is under much speculation this morning as a host of Premier League clubs are rumoured to be interested in a man that the Swans value as high as £12m.
West Ham, Newcastle, Southampton and Leeds are all names linked with the Swans captain who was strongly rumoured to be on his way from the Liberty last season as well but this season it possibly has more substance.
Of course at this moment, the potential moves are nothing more than rumours (together with the usual input of agent talk as well) but the Swans we know will look most years to make a big sale within the squad to finance what they believe could be substantial growth. Simply put, make one big sale, invest it wisely and become stronger as a result.
We have seen this many years in the past. In fact, you could argue that it was only when we tried to move away from that model in the Premier League it went wrong. The Swans have a habit (and a history) of trying to get young hungry players to do the job for them and that could be the case this summer with Grimes a potential ‘sacrifice’ within that model especially with his value high at the moment.
A host of Premier League clubs potentially being interested is probably not news just yet as nobody seems to have made a firm move for the Swans captain but this could be the time for Grimes to move on. Leeds of course has been a destination for him before when he went there on loan, Newcastle have former Swans players in their ranks and Southampton are a club that Swansea want to do business with elsewhere. And West Ham? Well they tend to get linked with pretty much anyone these days anyway so this was always going to happen.
All four of them would be richer as a squad to have Grimes in it although the player would need to consider his desire to play every week (which he does at Swansea) against the additional riches that playing at the top level would bring him.
Two summers ago it was McBurnie and James who the Swans cashed in on. Last summer it was Rodon and this summer could easily be Grimes as we face the reality of a season without parachute payments and a rebuild requirement created by the return to parent clubs of loan players.
One thing we know about the summer transfer window is that transfer sagas have a tendency to run and run and over the coming days and weeks expect there to be more Grimes links before the captain’s future is resolved but for now take the opening salvos, have a discussion around them and see what happens next.
Of course the final key of this particular rumour is in two parts. How much of any fee will be reinvested back into the squad and who will it be invested on. An interesting summer is unfolding.
