Speaking to Wales Online, Swansea City head coach Paul Clement insists that Kyle Bartley is ‘staying’ with the club after returning from a successful loan spell away. The centre back played 50 times for Leeds United last season, but their hopes of re-signing him appear to have all but ended.
Clement took charge of the Swans in January, and Bartley had already been loaned out then-manager Francesco Guidolin. Garry Monk had made brining Bartley back to Elland Road one of his top priorities, but Leeds fans are unlikely to see him pull on the famous shirt any time soon.
Since his loan ended, Clement confirmed that he has already spoken with Bartley and has spoken of how impressed he has been with his stint away from the Liberty Stadium,
“He’s had a good season, we’ve spoken on the telephone and said well done.
“It’s unusual loan players captaining the side, he’s done well, but from our point of view I’m looking forward to him coming back and working with him.
“As far as I’m concerned he’s a Swansea player and he’s staying. He’s coming back here.”
Bartley had recently spoken out when pressed if he would at all be interested in returning to Leeds again next season. He wouldn’t go as far as saying he would want to come back, paying respect to the fact he is a Swansea player. However he did state how he has ‘fallen in love’ with everything connected with Leeds United.
The future of Monk himself is still somewhat unclear as it is, so perhaps sorting that it is the number one priority before focusing too much on player recruitment.
