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Wolves Preparing Big Money Bid For Swansea City Defender – Would It Make Sense

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Sunday saw a somewhat new rumour for me in the shape of Wolverhampton Wanderers being linked with a move for Swansea City centre-half Alfie Mawson.

Mawson seems to have been linked with almost every Championship club this season looking at Sky Sports News’ ticker on the old telebox but links with some Premier League sides have also appeared. Some of the, shall we say, less reliable internet outlets have certainly suggested Nuno Espirito Santo and our recruitment gurus may have had an interest in him previously but given the nature of the transfer window I only really start giving speculation a one out of 10 level of interest when we get to the standard hacks regurgitating news that never goes anywhere.

In this case it came from the Birmingham Mail via the Daily Mail – put it this way I wouldn’t put a bet on it, but it is an interesting proposal in some ways.

The 24-year-old is certainly the right age and being on the cusp of 200 career appearances – the vast majority being starts – he has the right kind of experience for his age. A goal return of 24 also isn’t too shabby.

With Wolves having a strong and growing foreign contingent, we have to factor in homegrown requirements and whilst we’re not against investing in players now, we have to do so sensibly for Financial Fair Play reasons and applicable wage growth restrictions year on year.

Mawson would tick that box in a better way than say a Harry Maguire would. Swansea are said to want £20million plus and reportedly West Ham have already been knocked back by not meeting their valuation – in the current market £25million for a homegrown, very steady if not spectacular centre-half, it has to be considered good value.

He’s a former England Under 21 international who was tipped for a shot at England until Swansea’s struggles last year, but he was still an ever-present for them. I wouldn’t be overly against this one coming off, but Mawson would have to accept he comes in not necessarily expecting a first-team slot from the get-go.

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