According to reports, Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson is one of the many targets for Swansea City this summer as they aim to bolster their defence before the window closes this month. The defender is expected to leave the Gunners after falling down in the pecking order following a terrible short, first-team spell last season.
Swansea City has by far been the most uncertain side in the league in terms of transfers. The likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Fernando Llorente and Alfie Mawson are all wanted by other clubs but are yet to make the move with the season starting in less than a week.
Manager Paul Clement surely has replacements ready at his sights if they leave but Jenkinson remains more of an addition with a view to beef up his bench. The right-sided defender can play both as a right-back as well as a centre half.
Despite having some quality options at the back in the likes of Mawson, Federico Fernandez, Kyle Bartley, Kyle Naughton and more the South Wales club managed to conceded a whopping 70 goals last season. It was the most number of goals let in by a side that managed to dodge relegation.
And while the defence should be Clement’s primary concern this summer, by all means, the Swans are yet to see any major inclusion in that position. The only two players that they have brought in are central midfielder Roque Mesa from La Liga side Las Palmas and Chelsea forward Tammy Abraham on loan.
While it is difficult to consider Jenkinson as an upgrade to Swansea’s defence, the English international will definitely be a great backup for the side. At 184cm, the 25-year-old possess a good physique with superior upper body strength and could bring in the needed assurance at the back for the South Wales club.
Jenkinson is already attracting interests from Serie A clubs like Cagliari, Hellas Verona and Sassuolo, although they are yet to initiate any kind of bid for the defender. But, it reflects Jenkinson’s good technique on the ball which is a prerequisite to play in the Italian league.
An academy product of Charlton Athletic, he spent a short stint with Eastbourne Borough before Arsenal brought him in 2011. He took three seasons to break into their first team when Arsenal decided to loan him off to West Ham United. And it was his two-year stint at Upton Park that made him a popular name in England before injuries sidelined him for the bad.
The Buckhurst Hill-born still has three years left on his contract with Arsenal and he currently earns £45,000 a week contract at the Emirates. It seems that he has to take a pay cut for regular game time elsewhere. So is a move to Swansea that right one for his career?
