By Adefunmiloye Alani

6th Jan, 2022 | 12:25pm

Reading confident of keeping John Swift despite January interest from Leeds

Reading are confident that they are going to be able to keep John Swift this January despite interest from Leeds United, according to Football League World.

That is because the 26-year-old has a juicy contract at the Championship outfit, and any offer to sign him during the winter transfer window is going to have to be sizeable and also include a fee.

The Whites are keen to bolster in the middle of the park, but they are not the only ones keen on Swift, with Brentford also interested, and while a move is not completely off the cards, it could prove very difficult this month.

Time to move on?

Kalvin Phillips is unavailable until March due to injury, and Marcelo Bielsa could do with another central midfielder right now.

Leeds wanted to sign one in the summer but things could not work out, and they may need to wait until the end of the season when his contract expires before moving for Swift.

The former Chelsea man has been in fine form this season, with eight goals and nine assists to his name in 22 Championship games in 2021-22.

Having averaged a goal per league game so far this term, the Elland Road outfit could do with such a player with an eye for goals.

A move will require them to break the bank, though, and it remains to be seen if that is in the plans right now.

Leeds will fancy their chances of staying up despite their frequent injury woes, but they do need to strengthen their squad this month to boost their chances.

Victor Orta will be scouring Europe and hoping to land some bargain deals, and Bielsa really needs quality players capable of hitting the ground running at the west Yorkshire outfit.

In other Leeds United news, Whites chiefs recently jetted out of the UK for talks.