Michael Reeves
The Swans are reported to be – along with Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers – interested in making a move for Arsenal midfielder Matt Smith who, it is now suggested, could leave the Emirates Stadium on a permanent deal this January.
Smith has spent the last couple of seasons out on loan at Swindon Town, Charlton Athletic and Doncaster Rovers to gain valuable first-team experience. It was reported this week by Football Insider that the three Championship clubs could all be looking at a permanent deal for the player.
The question for me is why this makes sense? Midfield is an area where we are not short of options. Matt Grimes, Joe Allen, Jay Fulton, Luke Cundle, Ollie Cooper and Olivier Ntcham have all featured heavily this season for the Swans and there is little doubt that we have other areas of the pitch where strengthening will be higher up the agenda.
Smith though is a quality player and when you factor in the speculation that Ntcham could be open to leaving and there can still be lingering doubts over Joe Allen’s long term fitness then maybe the door is open to this kind of move.
For it to happen though it has to mean departures and surely it would need to be departures from that area of the squad. Otherwise we end up with another transfer window purchase that seemingly makes no sense. We had some of those last year and whilst it may immediately appease those that demand signings I have always be a firm believer that you only buy players that add value to your squad. Smith may do that but for it to happen then someone needs to make way. Who that would be is a different question.
For now I am putting this one down firmly as “not happening” No inside sources, detailed insight just a gut feel that it doesn’t make sense and we don’t have the budget to do things that don’t make sense.
