Swift to Portsmouth: Transfer fee, salary and likely shirt number for West Brom ace
Portsmouth have been linked with a move for John Swift in the summer transfer window.
The midfield ace made 37 appearances for West Brom this past season, but is being released by the West Midlands club when his contract expires later this month.
Swift could be the perfect signing at Fratton Park since Portsmouth are short of central midfielders.
Here, Pompey News explores some of the finer details of the potential transfer.
Details of potential Swift transfer revealed
Pompey could sign Swift for free as his West Brom contract is set to expire on 30 June. This only serves to make the deal more appealing for the Fratton club.
Online reports suggest that Swift’s weekly wages at The Hawthorns are likely somewhere between £22,000 and £25,000.
Swift might be looking to negotiate a better salary, and the situation is in his favour since there is no transfer fee involved and several clubs are interested in signing him. At 29 years old, he would most likely be offered a three-year contract at best.
Swift donned the number 10 shirt at West Brom this season. If he were to sign for Portsmouth, he could take the number 8 jersey vacated by Freddie Potts.
Swift transfer would be exciting news for Pompey fans
Most transfer news coming out of Fratton Park this summer has either been unrealistic or underwhelming.
Supporters have hardly been jumping for joy when hearing about links with lower-league players or potential loan deals for unproven Premier League youngsters.
However, it would be exciting news for Portsmouth fans if the club were to land Swift on a free transfer.
| Appearances | Minutes Played | Goals | Assists |
| 37 | 1819 | 3 | 1 |
The attacking midfielder has tons of experience in the Championship and would add plenty of energy to Pompey’s engine room.
There has supposedly been interest from clubs in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United States, but it’s believed that Swift is keener to remain in England.
He was born in the city and was briefly involved in the Portsmouth youth set-up before being snapped up by Chelsea.
So, the transfer would represent a homecoming after many years, similar to when Matt Ritchie and Marlon Pack returned to Fratton Park.
These two local boys proved to be successful signings, and a move for Swift has all the signs of another good deal.