Phil SumblerIt was just over a week ago that Leeds United were linked with a move for Flynn Downes and now someone who knows him very well has claimed that he is destined for a £10m Premier League move.
Downes joined the Swans last summer and has attracted rave reviews and praise from media and fans alike and there is little surprise that he is being linked with moves away from the club already after such a relatively short stay here.
That said, it was more than one eyebrow that may have been raised that the link was so early with a Premier League club particularly when he is being touted as a possible replacement for Kalvin Phillips who is reported to be a big money target for Aston Villa this summer.
Downes joined from Ipswich and former Under-23’s boss Keiron Dyer believes that they would be top of the league had they managed to hold onto to the player last summer but that was something that Dyer said was not possible.
He revealed that Downes had asked to be allowed to leave Portman Road but he brokered “peace” talks between the player and manager Paul Cook but the talks broke down and Flynn was on his way with Swansea the destination.
“Flynn was in the bomb squad (last year),” Dyer told the Ipswich Star. “Which, by the way, I totally agreed with because I was in the meeting when he said to (manager) Paul Cook that he would like to move on.
“But he’s always been emotional. He’s that type of character. So me and BK (Bryan Klug, Ipswich’s Head of Coaching and Player Development) were good for him. We listened to him, we understood him.
“We got to the point where we arranged a truce meeting with him and Paul Cook so that it could be agreed that he could stay. But it was two alpha males going at it, the meeting didn’t go to plan and Flynn left.
“Either myself or Bryan should have been in that room. If I could have persuaded Flynn to stay we would have had a midfield of Sam Morsy and Flynn Downes and would be top of the league! I’m telling you now, Flynn Downes will go for £10m this summer to a Premier League club.
“That pains me because I could have made a difference and I let that slip after we out all that work in.”
