Belgian news outlet, Voetbal Belgie are reporting on Swansea City, Stoke City and West Brom’s rising interest in Werder Bremen fullback, Robert Bauer. The 23-year-old is also wanted by Club Brugge with his contract set to run for another two seasons with the Bundesliga outfit. The Bild had previously speculated upon a transfer to Albion but Brugge always had the upper hand since their coronation as the Belgian champions and qualification into next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Swansea are understandably still in the hunt but will have to beat out their relegation siblings from last season. All three of the English sides dropped down to the EFL Championship after finishing in the bottom three of the 2017/18 Premier League season.
The trio are set to feature in the second division after a long stretch in the top-flight. That unfortunate situation brings with it a series of financial limitations delving from their loss of Premier League status. Most of their starting players will be picked up by the top flight sides and the clubs are left looking for cheaper replacements either from the lower tiers or from other parts of the world.
Bauer was part of the Germany squad in the 2016 Olympics and has 6 caps for his country’s U20 side. He made 19 appearances for Bremen last season to see the team into the 11th spot of the Bundesliga.
Bauer is versatile as a defender and can appear from either flank and as a wingback as well. He is currently behind Theodor Gebre Selassie in the pecking order and has just a single goal attached to his name for the River Islanders in his 46 team appearances.
The 23-year-old came out of the FC Ingolstadt 04 youth academy where he played in 43 games for the senior team. He is cut from the same cloth as most of the modern day fullbacks, packed with speed and crossing pedigree but not necessarily the most present on the defensive end.
Bauer is still developing into a top professional and could use the game time he might be offered at Swansea to develop his career. The Welsh outfit has appointed Graham Potter as their new head coach and the Englishman is known to favour younger talents.
Bauer could find himself in front of either Kyle Naughton now that Angel Rangel is set to quit the Welsh outfit. The Swans could also use the German’s talents to quickly make their way back into the Premier League after spending a single season in the second division.
