Swans target loan move for Chelsea defender

The Swans have targeted a loan move for Chelsea defender Bashir Humphreys as Michael Duff looks to continue building a squad that he hopes will be capable of challenging at the top end of the Championship.

The Swans manager has identified Humphreys as a player who can add further options to his squad with Chelsea keen to see the youngster head out on loan from Stamford Bridge to continue his development.

Humpreys made his debut for Chelsea in a FA Cup tie at Manchester City earlier this year but spent the second half of last season on loan at Paderborn in the German second tier.   He made 13 appearances in Germany and also played – and scored – for England in the Under-20 World Cup.

Bashir signed for Chelsea at under-15 level, going on to sign a scholarship deal in 2019. He signed his first professional contract with Chelsea in October 2021, going on to extend this deal the following year.

Humphreys has already been linked with Coventry City this summer and it is widely anticipated that Chelsea will trigger a one year extension on his contract before they allow him to go out on loan for the season.

Looking back on what has been a busy twelve months for him, Humphreys told the Chelsea website  “I feel pride in the fact that I proved a lot to myself and showed up for myself in moments that were tough, but above all, I am grateful in the opportunities I received this season.

“Firstly from Graham Potter and his staff who gave me my debut at Chelsea. It was a tough time for the team and a risk to put in a young centre-back but they still took that risk and trusted me.

“Then to Benjamin Weber and Lukas Kwasniok for all the faith that they put in me at Paderborn. From the minute I got to Paderborn they made it clear that they valued me and they wanted to help me develop and progress as a player.”

The Swans have already secured two loan captures in this window in Carl Rushworth and Harrison Ashby and ironically Humphreys came up against both in the States in the recent Premier League summer series, we can hope that he follows their example.