Journalist Urges Leeds United To Recruit This Championship Midfielder: Good Signing For Bielsa?

In a recent interview with One Leeds Fan YouTube channel, journalist Conor McGilligan has urged Leeds United to recruit Reading midfielder, John Swift. McGilligan said,

“I’ve watched this individual play a couple of times now, and he’d fit the system – John Swift. We’ve talked about him several times with summers gone by; he, for me is the perfect Leeds United signing.

“An absolute grafter, someone who’s worked his way up the football pyramid, someone who, for me, has the technical ability that would sort of replicate a Pablo Hernandez, a Samuel Saiz in tight pockets.

“Someone who is not afraid to drive at the defence; someone who is happy to pick the ball up in uncomfortable situations; someone who, when there’s a throw-in on the left, a throw-in on the right, will go and collect the ball; and then he’ll recover the ball, he’ll rotate – and I think that cycle is what Leeds are missing.

“He can be composed, but he can also be a complete threat. I think he can be mobilised in different positions.”

Swift’s Impressive Run Of Form In League Football This Season

The 26-year-old has made an excellent start to this campaign as he has managed to catch the eye by performing consistently at the centre of Reading’s midfield. Swift has made 17 appearances for the Royals this season, finding the back of the net on eight occasions and securing seven assists across various competitions.

The former Chelsea youngster has been quite consistent with his contributions in midfield because he is averaging 2.3 shots, 2.8 key passes, 1.5 crosses and 2.0 dribbles per game in the EFL Championship. He has even distributed the ball relatively well in the opposition half, based on his pass completion rate of 83.7% in the English second division (stats via whoscored).

Will Swift Be A Good Signing For Leeds United?

Swift can strike the ball with power and precision from long range. He excels at creating some decent openings for his teammates in the final third. The Portsmouth-born talent can even make a few well-timed runs with the ball towards the opponent’s penalty area.

The English midfield ace is also proficient at keeping the ball moving in midfield with ease and grace but the jury is out on whether he can maintain his lofty standards in Premier League football if the Whites decide to listen to McGillian’s advice by launching a move to bring him to Elland Road.

At 26, Swift will be a decent signing for Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa as he will undeniably enhance the quality of his starting XI. At the very least, he would increase competition for places within the West Yorkshire outfit‘s match-day squad.