Silly season truly arrived this week amid reports that the Swans were bidding £4m for a Scottish wonderkid

Real Radio reported yesterday afternoon their exclusive news that the Swans were bidding £4m for James McCarthy - a young talent known to Graeme Jones from his time in Scotland and someone that the Swans have been tracking for a while now.

The incredible bid would of course have way eclipsed the £400,000 paid for Ashley Williams or even the reported £1m++ being touted around to secure the services of Jordi Gomez.  Of course it would totally eclipse both of those had it even been close to true.

Just over 12 hours later and the reported bid is down to just £2m as Celtic's own opening bid has mysteriously dropped from £800,000 to £400,000.  Well that's actually £200,000 with the same sum again in add-ons.   Now we are getting into levels that are possible but still most would say unlikely.

McCarthy, 18, is reported to be one of the hottest talents in the Scottish game and has attracted interest from far more clubs than just Swansea and Celtic - Portsmouth for starters have had a £400,000 bid rejected with the names of Liverpool and Middlesbrough also reported to be interested.  

Jones has proven already to have a strong knowledge of the Scottish game because of his time there before joining up with Roberto just over two years ago and McCarthy is known to be one of the players he would love to see in a Swansea shirt but that in itself does not lend itself to £4m bids - or in fairness probably not £2m bids either.

"I thought April Fool's Day was last month," chairman Huw Jenkins told the Evening Post. "This is fantasy football."

The Scottish Herald reports today "Swansea will attempt to convince McCarthy and his family that the Championship is the best place for his development to continue, but Liverpool have also asked to be contacted before any offers from elsewhere are accepted. McCarthy will not be rushed and, while he is a Celtic fan, he will not allow his allegiance to cloud his judgment"

It would be silly to dismiss Swansea interest in the player because that most certainly appears to be true but let's get into the realms of figures that we know would work for us rather than throwing around silly figures.  Silly season yes but even rumours are supposed to be someway believable.

McCarthy at the Liberty?  I would be more than happy to see that though based on the reports of the player.

Photo: Action Images

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