As per latest reports, Swansea City are in a three-way battle with Birmingham City and Leeds United for the transfer of Britt Assombalonga from Middlesbrough. Tony Pulis does not wish to let go of the 25-year-old or Martin Braithwaite for anything less than a hefty transfer fee this summer. The Swans will have to step up their pursuit for the Congolese centre-forward if they are to make an immediate challenge for the Championship title next season.
After going down to the second division through relegation in the 2017/18 Premier League season, City have gone through a few changes to readjust to life in the second division. Graham Potter has been appointed as the head coach and the club also brought in two promising youngsters, Jordi Govea and Yan Dhanda.
Many of the club’s players are expected to make an exit from the Liberty Stadium this very summer, including Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Bony. With Tammy Abraham also having returned to Chelsea after the completion of his loan spell, the Welsh club might be a bit starved in the attacking positions.
Assombalonga could the right man to add some energy and consistent scoring into the Swans lineup. The 25-year-old grabbed 15 goals last term from his 46 appearances for Boro. He is their starting number nine who also has a single cap for DR Congo.
Assombalonga was brought over to Riverside Stadium from Nottingham Forest last summer for a club record £15m. The striker had already registered 3 seasons, 69 appearances and 30 goals to his name for the Foresters.
Prior to that, he was contracted to Peterborough United for a single season. Assombalonga’s career started out in the youth ranks of Watford, having joined the side as a 17-year-old in 2010. He was the first to impress by coming in second in scoring for the club’s youth sides and help them progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup.
Assombalonga also was a regular with the reserve side and later made his debut in the goalless draw against Coventry City in March 2012. He was sent out on loan to Wealdstone, Braintree Town and Southend United to gather more experience and only featured in 4 of the Hornets senior team games.
The 25-year-old is a proven talent in the Championship level who could give Swansea’s attack a new dimension. Standing at 5 feet 10 inches, he is a threat aerially and is capable of holding the ball to link up attacks.
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Potter should make a run for him in the coming weeks but should also be warned over the asking price set by Boro. They will be looking not only to recoup their previous investment but also to add a sizeable premium to the sale price.
