Phil SumblerYesterday’s reports suggested that both Birmingham City and Bristol City were interested in a January move for Swans defender Jake Bidwell although sources close to Ashton Gate quickly denied the Robins link. Either way though surely we wouldn’t be contemplating an exit for Bidwell.
The left back has been a regular in the Swans side since joining on a free transfer back in the summer of 2019 from QPR. He has made more than 100 appearances for us in the 28 months since that move down the M4 and remains a regular now with 16 Championship appearances to his name already this season.
It is known that the Swans will look to move several players on this January with Morgan Whittaker, Yan Dhanda, Liam Cullen and Brandon Cooper all linked with at least a loan move in January but to sell Bidwell feels like it may be the wrong decision.
At the wing back position that Bidwell occupies we are not blessed with options. He has lost his starting place in recent weeks to Ryan Manning but he has to remain very much of our plans especially factoring in his ability to chip in with the odd goal as recent performances against Cardiff and Peterborough have both shown.
CEO Julian Winter last week warned of player sales when he said “If the club can sell players for value, they will be sold but will be replaced. This summer there was a need to invest in the team, so we did with Joel Piroe, Michael Obafemi, Flynn Downes etc. Ownership know that there needs to be a contribution, we don’t yet know what that amount will be, because we don’t know whether we will trade in January or in the summer.”
The challenge with Bidwell is that he would not command the fee of some of our recent sales and, when you factor in signing on fees, it is difficult to see that we could get an upgrade for the same price or indeed strengthen the squad overall with the money.
Speaking yesterday on the owners financial input and plans for the window, Swans boss Russell Martin said “They [owners] want to help as much as they can, but we have quite a big squad. It’ll depend on who goes and how much they go for.
“It changes quite a lot so that’s why we have to have conversations with the owners a lot as well.
“They understand what we need and they’re really supportive of it. We’ll just have to wait and see what comes first in January. The players who we want, if they become available, or is it a case of having to get players out first, depending on the situation.
“That’s why January is so frustrating because so much depends on other clubs acting quickly.”
We know we can expect departures in January but some of that will be to free up room on the wage bill as much as it will to generate transfer funds through player sales. Bidwell is reported to be on £12,000 per week at Swansea and his departure would certainly free up something on the salary front but surely would make us weaker on the playing side and that is something that Russell Martin cannot afford to happen. He will want to come out of January stronger than when he went into it and that probably means holding onto Bidwell.
There is probably no doubting the Birmingham interest. The speed at which Bristol City sources moved to deny the rumour was an interesting one but for me we need to hold onto Bidwell because I am struggling to see us upgrading on the money we will have available and other positions are more pressing.
