Jake Bidwell is of interest to two clubs in the EFL Championship. In the summer Middlesbrough were allegedly ready to pay in excess of two million pounds for the utility defender, a figure that made most people smile. The swans would cash in on any transfer possibility in January as Russell Martin does have players he would like to bring in to the squad.
The Jake Bidwell transfer noise from a few months back was just that, Neil Warnock, the then Boro manager did name check him in a statement regards his transfer quest, but as we know Warnock has a devious mind when being interviewed. This resulted in Russell Martin responding "As far as I am concerned, I have not had a call from Middlesbrough or anyone and no-one's informed me that anyone wants to take Jake. So unless that happens he will be here, he will be in with a shout of playing as long as he continues to perform to the level he has. I think he has got better game on game. I like Jake as well."
That being said, Bidwell who is now twenty eight is as much of a saleable asset as any swans player. Coupled with that Martin still has issues to sort out at the back as we saw on Saturday at Middlesbrough, and most certainly the week before against Reading. Not a lot should be read in to Bidwell’s omission from the starting eleven over the last two games, but it’s clear he was missed to some extent. Rhys Williams has found himself in favour of late, unfortunately for him those games were not his best, especially on Saturday where a distinct lack of effort couldn’t be ignored by the swans manager. It’s almost certain he will return in January to Liverpool who are looking to cash in on him.
Bidwell does have a price on his head but it’s nowhere near two million, and any transfer estimations are well wide of the mark. Middlesbrough are still keen on signing two defensive players in January, and new manager Wilder has already been quoted as saying he wants players in. However, our sources have said Bidwell is of interest to Bristol City and Birmingham City. Martin is keen on two more defensive players, Haydon Roberts at Brighton and Harry Darling at MK Dons. Both are confirmed as of interest and either of them will come with more expenditure having to be made by the swans. To achieve that a transfer fee for Bidwell in the region of three hundred thousand pounds would enable that pot to be increased. JuliIan Winter has already stated more funds are needed to support Russell Martin’s desire to bring in new faces in the transfer window.
What really pushes Bidwell’s name forwards is his contract expires at the end of this season, no offers have been made to him by the swans. That makes him a free agent in June. His non inclusion in recent games has alarmingly seen the swans concede goals, and an ever changing defence isn’t helping. Martin needs to catch a hold of his defensive issues and Bidwell leaving could easily assist him bolstering the swans in January.
Martin faces his first real key decisions making issues this month and next. He has already stated how difficult this time of year is for clubs and players so hopefully he makes the right calls over the final four games of the year before all the speculation kicks in.