Phil Sumbler
The Swans desire to bring in a right back this season has been well documented and a possibility came about yesterday with the news that highly rated Arsenal right back Brooke Norton-Cuffy had signed a new deal at the Emirates Stadium.
There had been speculation that he could be on his way from North London with several tentative links over a permanent move but the signature of the player now secured it is widely expected that Arsenal will allow him to leave on loan this season with the Championship the likely destination.
The right-back spent the second half of last season on loan at Lincoln City in League One, making 17 appearances, scoring one goal and generally impressing with the Imps.
He was also in the England squad that won the European Under-19 Championship in June, coming off the bench in the final as Israel were beaten 3-1 in extra-time.
The Swans record in the loan market last season was not a strong one after some strong successes under Steve Cooper and this could yet be a factor with Arsenal keen to ensure that any move for Norton-Cuffy will benefit the player with regular first team football.
Speaking back in March during his loan spell with Lincoln, Norton-Cuffy talked about his time in the football league and said II came on loan to get as many minutes as possible and to play senior football. My loan is going well and they [Arsenal] are happy with my improvements and progression so we’ll see what happens when I get back.
“I think coming here is the best thing for me, and getting a run of games in men’s football has helped me a lot more than playing in the 23s; but it’s not as easy as coming from a Premier League club and playing elsewhere.
“In the Football League, it’s a different ball game and is a lot harder than playing 23s because of the physicality and the speed.”
The player is expected to make a loan move before the window closes on 1st September.
