According to Birmingham Live, West Bromwich Albion midfielder John Swift has admitted that he had no plans to leave the Championship team despite late interest from Coventry City.
The 28-year-old midfielder has been a crucial component of Carlos Coberan’s team thus far this season, but had he chosen to join the Sky Blues during the summer transfer window, things would have turned out quite differently for the midfielder.
Swift, who left Reading after six years to join West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer last summer, was a key player in the Baggies’ disappointing season finale.
Swift has made 12 appearances for the club this season across all competitions, contributing to one goal and scoring six others. He ranks among the leading goal scorers in the division thus far this season with six goals.
Swift, however, sustained a calf injury during a recent Championship match against Birmingham City and is anticipated to miss the next six weeks of the campaign, including the trip to Coventry City with the game being broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Swift chose to stay at the Hawthorns despite the club’s unsuccessful attempt to gain promotion last season. The team is now in 11th place, one point ahead of the Sky Blues.
Swift spoke on the summer transfer window…
“To be honest, it came up so late in the window that I was unaware of it, and when I did, I realized that there were only two days left and that nothing would get done. Even if it had, I wouldn’t have wanted to leave anyway,”
“As soon as I learned, I called my agent and informed him that I wasn’t actually interested in leaving. When we beat Swansea last season, I wanted to stay and had that thought in the back of my head the entire time. In sports, some things happen right at the very last minute, but for me, staying was a no-brainer.”
Author’s Opinion
Swift has been a dependable Championship player for the past six or seven years, therefore the football team would have suffered greatly if he had decided to leave.
Although the player earns a hefty salary, he belongs to the Hawthorns’ “must not lose” category, so if they want to challenge for the top six, they will need to ward off interest in the January transfer window.
