Swans pour cold water on Leeds link with defender Bartley
SWANSEA City say they have yet to receive any contact from Leeds United over a summer move for defender Kyle Bartley.
Reports at the weekend said the Championship club had already opened talks over a deal to return the centre-half to Elland Road, but sources at Swansea have told WalesOnline that is not the case.
The 26-year-old enjoyed an outstanding season on loan in Yorkshire last term, and it was enough to convince then-Swans boss Paul Clement to give him another chance to revive his Swansea career.
Bartley signed terms on a deal through to 2021 last summer, but a knee ligament injury soon sidelined him for four months and he has seen little action under Carlos Carvalhal.
He has made five Premier League appearances in total; Bartley would have been in contention to face Chelsea last weekend, but has suffered another knee ligament problem that could sideline him for the remainder of the campaign.
It had been thought that Swansea may be willing to listen to offers for the former Arsenal product, who joined the club in 2012, if they retained their top-flight status, although he is highly thought of by many at Fairwood.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported a deal would be dependent on Swansea retaining top-flight status.
That had looked increasingly likely a few weeks ago, but the Welsh club are now just a point above the relegation zone after Saturday’s defeat to Chelsea and Southampton’s win over Bournemouth.
But, should Swansea drop out of the Premier League they would certainly want to hold onto Bartley given his excellent performances in the second tier while with Leeds.
Relegation would surely see Swansea lose highly-rated Alfie Mawson, and Bartley’s knowledge of the Championship would make him a potential regular starter next term.
During his impressive time with the Yorkshire club Bartley made 45 Championship appearances and skippered them to the brink of the play-offs as he formed a fine partnership with Pontus Jansson.
■ Swansea City striker Oli McBurnie has been named Barnsley’s Player of the Year despite only joining them on-loan at the end of January.
The Scot, who has made his international debut since arriving at Oakwell earlier this year, has thrilled Tykes fans with nine goals in 16 appearances since his arrival.
McBurnie’s goals have played a crucial role in Barnsley’s continued fight for Championship survival and, despite his short stint at the club, have been enough to earn him the gong.
He picked up his award before kick off against Brentford on Saturday, a game in which he scored to help ensure Barnsley’s fate is in their own hands with one game remaining.