Even since the transfer window opened, there were rumours regarding Kyle Bartley’s move to Leeds United. The Swansea City centre-back enjoyed a good loan spell at Elland Road in the 2016-17 campaign where he was a regular feature at the back for Peacocks. Bartley went back to his parent club Swansea and featured just 12 times in all competitions in the 2017-18 campaign and the speculations were hot that he will leave Liberty Stadium in search of regular football.
However, with Swansea’s relegation to the Championship, the matters have complicated a bit as it is expected that the Swans will lose their first choice centre-back, Alfie Mawson, to a top division club and that will make Bartley a contender for a regular place in the first eleven. There were rumours that Scottish giants Rangers were also interested in having the 26-year-old Englishman at the club but the recent comments of Martin Skrtel’s agent will probably make the roadway clear for the Whites to swoop over Bartley.
Skrtel’s agent, Karol Csontó recently said,”Rangers are interested in Martin. I personally talked to Steven Gerrard about this possibility. Martin has sincerely said it would be an honour for him to play under Steven’s direction for three years. There are, however, complex financial matters. They are terribly far apart.”
If Rangers make a move for Martin Skrtel, it will be expected that they will not look for another centre-back in the transfer market and that will certainly boost Leeds United’s chance of getting their prime target.
Bartley was impressive in his one-year loan spell and in the final match of the season he acknowledged how he enjoyed his time at Elland Road. He had said,”I’ve said many times this season that I’ve loved every minute here, it’s been a fantastic club for me. The fans have been great, the staff have been great and the players are fantastic.”
Paul Heckingbottom’s side has been found wanting at the back in the just-concluded season and a premier defensive option is an absolute necessity in the transfer market. Bartley has an experience of playing in the Championship and that will be a huge bonus for them in their pursuit for a spot in the playoffs next season.
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Bartley is known to be a natural leader at the back and even though he wasn’t a regular for the Swans, he captained them on few occasions and Leeds can certainly do with a player like him who will command the defence line and keep things quiet at the back.
