John Swift can become Leeds United’s new Samuel Saiz | OneFootball

Leeds United are considering a bid for John Swift ahead of the January transfer window…

What’s the word?

That’s according to The Star, who claim the Yorkshire giants are amongst several sides weighing up a move for the Reading maestro, with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley also keen on his signature.

The 26-year-old’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, so if the Berkshire outfit want to cash in on him whilst they still can, then they will have to do so this winter.

It remains to be seen how much the former Chelsea youngster would cost, with Transfermarkt currently valuing him at just £3.6m.

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Shades of Saiz

Swift has been in electric form for the Royals this campaign, having provided the 16th-placed side with a whopping eight goals and seven assists. Only five other players in the division have scored more goals, which is surprising given the fact he’s a midfielder, whilst he ranks second overall for the latter.

Earlier this week, One Leeds Fan YouTuber Conor McGilligan urged the Whites hierarchy to sign the 6-foot playmaking genius.

“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 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.”

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Indeed, Saiz was a key figure in attacking midfield for Marcelo Bielsa as he provided both goals and assists for the club. Across 58 appearances, he delivered ten goals and 12 assists – one contribution every 192 minutes, via Transfermarkt.

It can be argued that United have lacked such a presence in the final third since their promotion to the big time. Only Stuart Dallas (eight goals) scored more than four times from all of Bielsa’s central options last season, whilst this season, no midfielder has found the net more than once.

Since the start of the 2019/20 season, Swift has averaged a direct contribution every 167 minutes, which is a slightly better rate than Saiz during his time at Elland Road and that makes him an even better candidate to fill that void in the near future.

Meanwhile, this season his average of 2.8 key passes per game would see the player dubbed “super talented” by manager Veljko Paunovic rank comfortably atop the standings in Leeds’ squad, with Raphinha ranking first (2.2 per game).

Whites director of football Victor Orta could well secure Bielsa his next Saiz in Swift, he should ultimately look to clinch a move in January, if not the summer when he may be available for nothing.