With Marc Guéhi sadly returning to champions league winners Chelsea following the end of his loan spell in South Wales, the Swans will need to find a replacement to fill the void left at the centre of a defence which has been excellent all season.
Whilst trying to identify potential transfer targets, it is important to consider Swansea's current financial footing, and although the club reported a profit of £2 million at the end of the last financial year, it is unlikely that our Rich American owners will decide to break character and invest towards any significant transfer fees. As was the case last season, Swansea will be looking for players available on a free transfer or at a hugely cut-price if the deal is right for the club.
One such player with the potential to replace Guéhi at the heart of the Swans defence is the 24-year-old former England U18, U19 and U20 international man-mountain Reece Burke. Standing at 6ft 2inches, Burke is a proven and experienced young centre back whose contract with the Tigers has now come to an end, making him an ideal transfer target for a Swansea team looking for a bargain.
Having started his career at West Ham at the age of 9, Burke worked his way through the youth ranks earning himself a first-team debut at 17 in the 2013/14 season. Since his professional debut, Burke has grown as a player having been sent out on loan to Bradford City, Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers before completing a permanent switch to Hull City in 2018 for a reported £1.8 million.
Burke's start to his Hull City Career was a difficult one as the Tigers began their second consecutive season in the Championship following the club's relegation from the Premier League. Burke instantly became a regular feature in the Hull City first team and went on to make 35 appearances during that season as Hull City achieved a 13th place league finish.
The following season, the club were sat in 8th pushing towards the play-off spots above them when the club owners infamously sold their best two attacking players on the final day of the mid-season transfer window. The decision to cash-in on their best attacking talent proved to be a catastrophic one, as the club only managed one more victory for the remainder of the season. This demoralising form saw Hull City plummet down the league table, eventually slumping to a 20th place league finish, condemning the side to relegation into the third tier of English (AND WELSH) football . However, last season was a different story, Reece Burke and a re-shaped Tigers squad managed to bounce back up at the first attempt which is no easy feat. An unbelievable 25 clean-sheets in all competitions contributed to a successful season for the club, finishing first in the league, clinching the title on the final day of the season. Burke's Hull City backline was a force to be reckoned with, conceding 38 league goals in 46 games.
After achieving promotion to the Championship, Burke will have the confidence, talent and experience to thrive in a Swansea team which has become excellent at getting the most out of young, hungry players and there's no reason to think Burke would be any different.