Phil SumblerThe links between Swansea City and Manchester City are obvious when Swans sporting director Mark Allen having been the academy director at the Etihad Stadium for eight full seasons until 2017.
Add to that a close relationship between Swans boss Russell Martin and Manchester City’s Under-23s coach, Brian Barry-Murphy and it is little surprise that there are plenty of links between the Swans and academy talent at the Ethiad Stadium ahead of the January transfer window.
The Christmas Eve news is that there is a link now between two academy defenders in left back Joshua Wilson-Esbrand and the club’s rising centre-half Finley Burns both of whom could be available for loan moves in the New Year.
The Swans could well be on the look out for a left back with Jake Bidwell likely to be the subject of an approach from Birmingham and seemingly out of favour with Russell Martin at the moment.ย ย Add to that the expected return of Rhys Williams to Anfield and it is easy to see why a central defender would be on our radar with several different links already being made in the past few weeks.
Wilson-Esbrand is described by Ciry as a “Powerful, marauding left-back”and joined the Premier League champions in 2019 from West Ham.ย He made his first team debut earlier this season in the Carabao Cup against Wycombe.
Burns on the other hand is described as a “Composed, towering defender” and made his debut in the same game as Wilson-Esbrand, a game that City won 6-1. Both players have won international honours for England at Under-18 level.
The move for Wilson-Esbrand would seem the most obvious one and feels – based on description alone – that he may be the perfect compliment to Ethan Laird – from City’s cross city rivals Manchester United – at full back.ย ย Whilst we are in the market for a central defender, at 18 years old Burns may not be the answer although alongside Bennett and Naughton there could be plenty for him to learn but it would have to be in the first team to make a loan move worthwhile.
Birdwell out of favour? He knows how to play and cross the ball and would be a loss to let him go, Smith and oberfembi are a waste of money and can go, their about as useful as a chocolate fireguard,!!!!
Losing Bidwell is a major blow a very big blow as he can really cross a ball and his crosses have proved useful for Piroe
Its surprising that Brandon Cooper and Dan Williams play very well and seem to be not part of Martins thinking alongside Jay Fulton who would make s solid defender and a proven one
Rusesha also has not had a chance.We have players on the books which seem to be better than 18 year old Man City loanees and loanee defenders such as Rhys Williams cannot hack playing in the championship Apart from Guehi our choice of loan defenders has not been good .If I was Bidwell,Brandon Cooper,Jay and Dan I would really be asking whether or not I have a future with Swansea City as this manager seems to have sidelined them