It’s been confirmed tonight that Flynn Downes has been the subject of an offer from Swansea City in the region of £550,000. Based on other bids for the player made last season that seems far lower than Ipswich Town want for Downes. Allegedly Downes who is out of contract at the end of the season was wanted by AFC Bournemouth, and was of interest to numerous clubs including Barnsley. Crystal Palace bid £1,500,000 last season unsettling the player who was disciplined by the club.

Now Downes has handed in another transfer request to manager Paul Cook and as a result of his first request last season he has been ‘banished’ to train with the under 23’s. It seems now Downes is very keen to leave east anglia and join Swansea City permanently. This adds even more speculation that Matt Grimes is still on his way despite being included in the clubs squad numbers for this season.

The Swansea offer will come with add ons and incentives, and judging by Downes contract running down they could well secure him for a bargain price next week. Matt Grimes is in a similar situation with the swans who are seemingly determined to encourage him to leave the club to free up wages and add money to the clubs coffers. Downes is on a ‘limited’ contract at Ipswich, and without too much speculation on his earnings it won’t be that much more than around £100,000 a year. This leaves the swans once again in a position to double his earnings and still frugally save on the overall club financial commitment, as they did with Jamie Paterson this afternoon with George Byers leaving this week.

Once again it is a gamble, the 22 year old midfielder is well thought of but in recent months has looked off the pace and very disinterested at times in an Ipswich shirt. He is obviously known to Russell Martin and his coaching team so we have to keep faith with him and his judgement. Things are moving really fast on the signings front, and other news tonight is reaching us that another signing has been agreed.

More soonest.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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