Leeds United midfielder left in limbo after Swans deadline day attempt

Deadline day can throw out some strange consequences when the dust has settled and that is certainly now the position that Leeds United midfielder Darko Gyabi finds himself in after the Swans failed to complete a move at the last minute for him.

On a busy day in SA1 that saw four arrivals it was the lack of a new midfielder that was the one thing that we would have wanted to achieve but failed on and it has now been confirmed that it was not for the want of trying.

The reports about a move for Gyabi surfaced on Friday afternoon and, as we reported at the time, was one of those links that just came out of the blue which can so often happen on a deadline day. And, as with many out of the blue links, you often wonder of the accuracy of the reports and how close a deal really is. The simple fact is that unless it has been worked on for some time prior to those reports the rush to get anything completed may fail to beat the deadlines set down by the football authorities.

Well the truth in the deal (or non deal as it happened) has now been confirmed by press reports in Leeds which say that “It’s now become public knowledge that Leeds were happy to let Darko Gyabi head out on loan on transfer deadline day, with no doubt some frustration that deal didn’t get done.”

That failure to get a deal done has left the midfielder in a position where first team football at Elland Road will be exceptionally limited in the first half of the season and surely leaves all signs to point to a move away from the club in January – by loan or by otherwise.

Despite that failure to get a deal done it was an eventful week leading up to the deadline for Gyabi with French club Valenciennes making a £5m offer for the player. Leeds though placed that deal on hold as they tried to get Iliav Gruev and Glen Kamara over the line which they did on both counts. That led Daniel Farke to be happy to let Gyabi go on loan and all suggestions were that he was going to head to Fleetwood on loan.

That was until the Swans reports materialised and he was linked with a move to SA1 with the press reporting a “hijacking” of the Fleetwood deal to bring him to South West Wales. Quite why our loan – or even the Fleetwood one – failed to be completed remains to be seen but it’s worth retaining the name of Gyabi on the radar of the fans just in case we decide to resurrect the interest in the player when the January window opens.

The Swans do remain very much in a position where midfield reinforcements are needed and surely – Gyabi or otherwise – that has to become a very high priority when the next window opens.

Swansea City player gets a Southgate call up for England training

Bashir Humphries has been elevated from the under 20 England side to train this week with the full international squad. With injuries to the full squad thwarting Gareth Southgate and numerous players on the injury list Bashir has got the nod.

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Swans players Charlie Patino and Nathan Wood have deservedly been called up to the under 21 England side which means that alongside Ben Cabango, Liam Cullen, Josh Thomas, Cameron Congreve, Ben Hughes and Joel Cotterill there will be plenty of Swans representation in the under 21 and full Wales and England squads this week. Unfortunately Azeem Abdulai is out with a long term injury which meant he and to withdraw from his Scotland call up.

The call for Bashir to join up at St George’s Park isn’t that much of an inconvenience as he is already there with the England under 20 set up. It really does reemphasise the faith that Mauricio Pochettino at his parent club Chelsea has in the player. He reluctantly allowed Bashir to go out on loan wanting him to fill in as back up to his first team selections this season. However, Paul Watson the Swans Sporting Director managed to prise the twenty year old away from Stamford Bridge for the season.

The international break was being seen as an opportunity for Swans head coach Michael Duff to galvanise his side as they prepare for the South Wales derby on Saturday week. However in Wood, Humphries and Cullen especially he has players that will be away until next week, in some cases until Wednesday. That will mean he has just a few days for Bashir to be indoctrinated in to the Swansea squad before the Cardiff City game.

That could mean he won’t be starting in the big match at the Cardiff City stadium.

The other issue Duff has as the months progress to January is a recall for Bashir back to Chelsea if he is as expected a success for the Swans. Details of a recall clause haven’t been released by the Swans, although whether it’s public knowledge or not is neither here nor there. News of such a clause would put fans minds at ease. It may well be an international break for the premier league and certain EFL clubs (some championship slides have no call ups and will benefit from two weeks training together) but the good news on all things Swansea City continue.

And as the Welsh derby gets closer as well.

Hopefully all new arrivals at the Swansea.Com Stadium will be briefed in the importance of this game for both cities. A local kick about it is not, and the victors, as the Swans have been in seven out of the last nine league meetings isn’t something that should be disregarded, and definitely not down played.

Losing isn’t an option.