Varun Pai
Transfer News: Manchester United loanee Ethan Laird set to be recalled from Swansea for Bournemouth move
According to The Telegraph (Subscription Required), Manchester United loanee Ethan Laird will be recalled from Swansea City to seal a move to Bournemouth this month.
The 20-year-old ace has come into his own at the Welsh club this season. Under Russel Martin, who he also played under at MK Dons, Laird has been one of the first names on the team sheet and is a crucial reason behind the Swans being above the relegation zone. Since joining them, he has made 20 league appearances and has provided 3 assists.
Thus, his performances have now been caught by table-topping Championship-side Bournemouth. The Cherries have been brilliant under Scott Parker this season and currently have a 3-point lead over 2nd placed Blackburn Rovers. The Englishman is keen on bringing Premier League football back to the Vitality Stadium next season and is eyeing reinforcements.
Man United are ready to recall the player and send him to the Boscombe-based side. The Red Devils do have the option to call him back before the end of the campaign and view him as a long-term prospect for the full-back role.
Vital decision
Laird could always have a great season in Wales, but he needs to be playing amongst the best to be part of our first-team squad someday. He made the step-up this season when he joined a Championship side, but it is laudable that he has garnered interest from the potential champions in just six months’ time.
Also, it is good to hear that the Red Devils could assess him as a first-team option in the future. However, it remains to be seen where he will operate. The Englishman has played in the right-back role this season, a position occupied by Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka at Old Trafford.
Both full-backs are under the age of 25 and could be at Man United for a long time. But if one of them fails to perform in the second half of this campaign, Laird could compete for a squad role next season. However, even that depends on his potential performance with new employers, Bournemouth.
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Thus, there are a lot of factors to consider before making the Basingstoke-born ace a first-team player. But this will be the second Man United loanee making a move from his current club, as Axel Tuanzebe is set to leave Aston Villa and travel to Italy to join Serie A side Napoli.
It is always healthy having your best talent getting regular minutes- whether it is at United or some other club on loan- because big clubs must always keep planning for the future along with the present.
