Phil SumblerYan Dhanda’s move from Liverpool in 2018 looked a perfect for Swansea City after he scored on his debut but now he is another one heading for the exit door in the January transfer window which will bring to an end two and a half years at the club that have yielded just 35 starts.
It has never really got gong for Dhanda under either Steve Cooper or Russell Martin and he has not featured for the new Swansea boss in the Championship since the 3-1 home defeat by Stoke back in August.
It is clear that the time is coming to end his career at Swansea but the question will be very much around what happens next for the 22 year old who has scored just five times in those appearances for the Swans.
This time last year there were some high profile links for Dhanda with Leeds United, Marseille, Atalanta and RB Leipzig all linked with a move for him but – maybe not unsurprisingly – nothing happened on that front.ย Often used off the bench in the second half of last season there was a further link in the summer to Anderlecht who it was reported “were keen to give him game time” but again no progression and he remained at Swansea.
He was a 57th minute substitute in our opening game of the season against Blackburn before being handed his first league start under Martin in that home defeat to Stoke but lasted just 38 minutes before being replaced by Joel Piroe and he has not seen a league minute since.
On that Stoke substitution, Martin said at the timeย “It was no slight on Yan at all, I think he was actually having quite a good game.
“We were a little bit deep and had a bit too much of the ball at the back.
“Joel has been unlucky to be left out to be honest in the last two games.”
It is difficult to predict where Dhanda will end up.ย It feels like a lower league destination is most likely with rumoured interest from a couple of unnamed League One clubs being suggested elsewhere but there is no doubt he will be on his way with it completely clear he does not fit into the plans of Russell Martin.
The thing is he had more vision than any other Swansea player and once or twice a game he would see and make a pass that none of our other players could. He was ok when Swans were on top and in possession but he had a bad habit of disappearing or running around always in the wrong place when we were being beaten in midfield. Strong sense of unfulfilled talent. Dhanda needed a bit of TLC. Bit of gym time to bulk up and some shooting training to give him extra weapons. Shame we couldn’t bring him on.