SWANSEA CITY will aim to complete the loan signing of Josh McEachran over the next 24 hours, with Chelsea legend Ray Wilkins insisting Brendan Rodgers is set to land a real star.
McEachran is poised to make the switch from Stamford Bridge to South Wales after a long pursuit by Swans boss Rodgers, who yesterday described the 18-year-old midfielder as one of Britain’s top young talents.
Now former Chelsea assistant boss Wilkins has given his backing to the move, telling the Western Mail Swansea have got themselves a great deal in snaring a player of “exceptional” quality.
Aston Villa, Bolton and Wigan had all wanted to land the England Under 21 talent but, having been cautiously optimistic of his chances for some time, Rodgers admitted yesterday he was confident of wrapping up the loan that would see McEachran at the Liberty Stadium until the end of the season.
And Wilkins, who has seen McEachran’s ability at close quarters following his two-year spell as Carlo Ancelotti’s No.2, admitted: “Swansea are getting themselves a young man of exceptional talent.
“You only have to see the amount of times Carlo played him last year to see how highly he thought of him.
“Of course, when any new manager comes in things become different, but I know he’s still very highly thought of at the club.
“He has a wonderful left foot, but has a wonderful attitude too and he is going to work with a manager who knows him extremely well in Brendan Rodgers and I’m sure that will benefit both Josh and Swansea. Swansea have got themselves a great deal.”
Swansea have been in pole position for McEachran, but had been waiting for the green light from current Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas.
The Portuguese had blocked McEachran’s attempts to move out on loan earlier in the season, but has now giving his blessing for the starlet to gain experience outside London.
And, described as the potential successor to Frank Lampard’s Kings Road midfield throne, Wilkins believes the boyhood Blues fan will be able to impress on a well-trodden loan path during his time with the Swans.
“We’ve seen this type of move and the success its had many times before and recently with the likes of Jack Wilshere and Daniel Sturridge, who went to Bolton,” said Wilkins, Lampard himself having spent a short time on loan in South Wales before becoming a Premier League star.
“You only have to look at Danny Welbeck, who went to Sunderland last year and now looks a different player back at Manchester United. There’s no question about it that being introduced to regular football of the highest standard – because that’s what he’ll be getting at Swansea – will do him the power of good.”
Former Chelsea youth supremo Rodgers had targeted two midfielders as his key signings during this January transfer window and he looks now to have got his men as McEachran gets set to follow Gylfi Sigurdsson to the Liberty, striker Rory Donnelly and defender Darnel Situ also brought on board with international clearance received yesterday.
And he was clear on his thoughts of McEachran yesterday ahead of the deal, saying: “He’s a player who sees passes from the sky. He’s an incredible passer of the ball and I know the England set-up have very high hopes for him as well.
“He’ll be brilliant for the Swansea supporters and they’ll get to witness one of the best talents this country’s got.
“He’s a kid who can create chances and has wonderful vision on the ball and he fits perfectly into our team.
“I’ve got a really talented and gifted group of players at this level and he’ll come into the squad and add to that and give us that bit of strength for the second part of the season.”
McEachran has been tipped to be the next best thing at Chelsea, although has seen his game-time limited at Stamford Bridge this season, making only two substitute league appearances.
Signed as an eight-year-old, McEachran was a regular in the youth teams while still a schoolboy and made his Chelsea debut as a 17-year-old last year against Zilina, becoming the youngest Champions League player in the process.
Although he was utilised under Ancelotti as a deep-lying central midfielder, he has a natural attacking element to his game that would suit Swansea’s midfield set-up.
