The Islington born centre back has eligibility through his mother to play for Scotland and his career hasn’t seen a level above league one, however this past campaign he has drawn interest from a few Championship clubs.

The issue will be his age, he is twenty eight next birthday in February 2025, and when his stats are examined it wasn’t until he was around twenty two that his career started on an upward trajectory. It could be said his pathway then improved when at MK Dons. Despite a decent time at MK he found himself loaned out to Fleetwood where he became a significant part of the side which avoided relegation on the last day of the 2022/23 season. Thereafter in July of last year he signed for Exeter City who had a one year option on the player.

That said Zak was in negotiations with the Grecians last month but unfortunately those talks ended with Zak refusing a new three year deal at the club. What the one year option entails isn’t known, however the Swans when managing the future of certain players like Nathan Wood, a valuable asset, they have triggered their one year option. The same can be said for Liam Cullen.

On his contract talks with Exeter City Zak stated, “Me and the gaffer are in discussions about the possibilities of extending and maybe longer than my option that’s on the table, which is positive. It’s nice to know that the club want to make that commitment to myself. It’s just about having some ongoing discussions and getting it right. I would enjoy it if I was to stay here in terms of the football, in terms of the fans. So that’s something that’s on my mind at the moment.”

That certainly has a ring of the Macaulay Langstaff’s about it, especially now Zak has decided to leave Devon.

Zak either knows there is interest in him, or his agent has been working hard at his behest to find him another club. Either way with a career in the lower leagues and non league it will be a gamble for any Championship club that signs him. In fact a big one. Having taken that all in, as many now know - the Swans are big in to in-depth stats which to an extent Zak has impressed at Exeter City. He wins over half of his headed duals, which some may question for a man well over 6’. (191 cms) but his short passing game is around eighty percent. That’s very good. He has around a sixty six percent dribble success and coupled with his dominant role at left centre back, a picture on why Swansea City ‘may well’ be interested in him becomes clearer.

Last season he had fifty five touches in the opponents area and came up with two goals as well. Again though for his height his placement in the opposition penalty area is also an area of concern. He wins possession reasonably well in the final third of the pitch but was dispossessed on nearly forty occasions last season. He is a mixed bag, and despite his career to date, a club like Swansea City may see some areas they can improve on with the more technical coaching available at Fairwood. A player like Zak Jules doesn’t turn down three year deals every day which has alerted numerous clubs as to his availability. How deep that interest goes, and if that improves his potential earnings as a player is open to discussion of course, but he is very keen to move on from Exeter City.

With Nathan Wood in the shop window Harry Darling and Ben Cabango are pretty much first choices, so some back up is most certainly required. Whether that’s Zak it is hard to say. On stats, and this is where Sporting Director Paul Watson allegedly flourishes he looks a proposition. He also has data driven expert Brett Cravatt on his side, Brett joined the Swansea board last year. He contributes all round statistical information, and not just on players. Zak does seem a decent prospect. However, he has never played at Championship level despite decent performances in leagues below.

The other area is he will be cheap, regardless of his situation at Exeter City. The added incentive if the club do decide to invest in him (let’s be honest the Swans will have many targets to research) is his salary at Exeter is around £3,000 a week. Zak will see any move in to the Championship as bringing him a wage of around twenty thousand pounds a month, and that’s an area the Swans feel comfortable with in doing business. With financial losses and news of more dilution in the form of ready capital already disclosed last week this could well be the type of player the club will have at least an interest in.

Due to the overwhelming views of our in profile players last season we will continue to research and arm you with all the facts on players this summer.

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