Could Leeds really snap up James?

THE impact made by several of Swansea City’s youngsters has been clear to see in the amount of transfer speculation they already find themselves involved in.

Joe Rodon and Connor Roberts have been regularly reported as being of interest to Premier League suitors, and winger Daniel James has now been linked with Leeds United following the superb form that has earned him a senior Wales place.

Reports from Football Insider state the Whites are eyeing a January move for the winger.

The story states: “Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa has made a new winger one of his top priorities when the transfer window reopens in January and has given the green light to a pursuit of the pacy wide attacker.”

But what is the state of play with James?

Well, he’s has made 11 appearances this season under Graham Potter, and it is safe to say that he has improved with almost every game after being eased into the first-team picture initially. He made his bow for Potter at Birmingham, a difficult evening for all concerned in orange shirts, but James never stopped trying, despite some industrial treatment when he came off the bench.

In truth, the winger has had to deal with the physicality of Championship defenders in virtually every game he’s played.

“This league is quite aggressive, I have played a lot at Under-23s level where maybe it has not been aggressive and I have got to be able to react and adapt to that,” he said after the defeat at Rotherham.

“I don’t think this game was a learning curve for me, I knew I was going to get that. I know it is a tough league and every week will be like that but you have to keep going and make sure you are still doing your best for the team. I felt I did not get myself in the game as much in the second half, and I need to do better in those situations.

“I have to take it as a compliment, people tell me just don’t get wound up, make sure you keep your head and get up and get back on with it.

“It’s going to happen and I have to keep going.”

Performances against Ipswich, Reading and Blackburn have put him in the shop window – and he’s arguably been Swansea’s stand-out player over the last month or so.

With form like that there is no denying that James will have admirers elsewhere, including at Elland Road.

He may well have been scouted – in fact, you would be surprised if he hadn’t been.

Swansea are well-stocked in the winger department but if any wideman is to leave this January, it isn’t James. Rumours state that James is out of contract at the end of the season but that information is incorrect.

The Wales youngster signed a twoyear extension to his then-existing deal during the 2017-18 campaign, meaning he is tied to the Liberty until at least June 2020.

I learned a lot out on loan. I probably learned the most when I was at Leeds. I learned football is a very cruel game and won’t give you anything - Swansea City player, Matt Grimes