With concern mounting that the family silver has been sold off in recent seasons resulting in recruiting loan players there is news of a confirmed Swansea target this January. Despite signing players (mostly on loan) all we see now is a very average Swans side, we have confirmed this Swans target via several sources.

Marc Leonard who we have featured before as a Swans target is twenty two in December and has spent this season on loan at Northampton Town. He played forty eight times for the Cobblers last season scoring one goal, this time around he has featured seventeen times again scoring one goal.

Reports of his performances in league one have been favourable. His main position is midfield. The Swans have inquired with Brighton regards his availability. He is under contract at Brighton until the end of June 2025, his agents at CAA Base have done business with Swansea Sporting Director, Paul Watson already this season, and we have been told that Leonard is quite keen to talk with the Swans come January 1st …

He has had opportunity to do so in the past but he did reject the opportunity being named in the Seagulls Premier League squad at the time. He is yet to make his league debut for his parent club.

So, where do we see this transfer in the bigger picture ?

Well, Leonard sees another season in a lower league side as the right thing to do. Just before he returned to Northampton for a second season he said. "I talked to other clubs and other managers, but I got the right feel about coming back. It was key that it wasn't (going to be) on a par with last season, it's a step in the right direction which for me is perfect. A few of the lads have been badgering me all summer about coming back so it's nice to see everyone again,"

Leonard, who is also interesting Cardiff City, is fast approaching the period of his career where he is finding his level. It’s pretty clear Brighton by loaning him out for two seasons are going to want to see an improvement. He is playing well in league one, but that’s a huge gap to the Premier League. For us he is a decent player playing in a side that is hardly pulling up trees in league one. He is showing some great examples of improvement but if he was that much of a prospect he would be playing in Brighton’s European campaign this season. Many players are being blooded in the Europa League squad, the queue ahead of Leonard is rather big. Brighton will most certainly be looking for a fee for the Scotland U21 international for sure. The other option will be for the Swans to loan him in over the transfer window, adding some insurance regards a Charlie Patino recall to Arsenal. And that isn’t as much of a long shot with Patino saying last month. "Bukayo Saka went straight from academy to first team. Eddie Nketiah went on a few loans, Emile Smith Rowe went on a few loans, so everyone’s journey is different. Ultimately, it’s about getting to where you want to get to, and that’s the same for me. I want to play in the first team at Arsenal and being here is a massive pathway to help me do that."

That should tell anyone who cares to listen his future as he sees it is at Arsenal. And they have had some multi million pound inquires for him as well. With Charlie out of favour with Swans head coach Michael Duff it does sound like his non selection is more about ‘it’s already known he could be recalled.’ Or Duff is looking for some form of reaction from him. Marc Leonard seems to signal another drop in standards since the changes behind the scenes in the summer ( they are not over yet ) There hasn’t been an improvement in standards since the summer, and that because some of the players brought in are not of Championship standard.

And for many that’s the big issue.

Photograph licensed from Reuters

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