Renowned football analyst Andy Scott who has unearthed numerous talents from his time at Brentford has his eyes on Twenty four year old Harrogate Town central midfielder Alex Pattison. Scott has a flexible recruiting role at Swansea, and works alongside Mark Allen and Russell Martin. With Matt Grimes potentially on his way in January, Pattison is one of a number of potential replacements currently being monitored by the swans.

Swansea City won’t be without competition if they do decide to go for Pattison in January. However, their rivals don’t have the prestige or potential the swans have. Barnsley, Blackpool, Hull City and Luton Town are all the clubs linked with the midfielder. He has scored five goals in ten games this season, with a few assists thrown in, and would come as a fairly cheap signing. Harrogate are believed to be comfortable in the £250,000 bracket if approached. His salary wouldn’t be an issue for the swans.

As with all lower league signings Pattison does come with a few question marks. He has been a professional for four years, and it was only this season he started to find his feet in League two. Before that he had played sixty four games without a return in front of goal, however it seems this season he has found not only his confidence to put the ball in the back of the net, but to become a major influence in Harrogate’s games. It could well be he is a late starter, but his previous clubs, York, Wycombe and Yeovil didn’t see enough in him, and his first professional club Middlesbrough released him in 2019. He signed for Harrogate after his release from Wycombe this season.

Weighing up his options we do know Russell Martin has been an admirer of Pattison, especially when he was at Wycombe, and that interest has been firmed up by his performances this season. It has to be said that Alex Pattison does fit the Andy Scott criteria for performance levels this season, but it’s between now and late December where his performances and potential will be closely analysed by Scott.

If he matches up we could see a bid from the swans in January looking to replace Matt Grimes, it’s pretty much down to Pattison now. He is fully aware of Championship interest in him, so if he can cope with that pressure and continue to perform, don’t be surprised to see Swansea City in the frame for his signature in a few months time. Pattison though will have to accept fairly low terms if he did secure a role at Swansea, he would be a gamble, but may well be one worth taking ?

Is this the sort of player you want to see Swansea City going for in January ?

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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