West Brom step up chase for Leeds United summer target Kyle Bartley

The Baggies have a made a move for Bartley and want to talk Swansea City into a deal as quickly as possible, despite Swansea’s apparent reluctance to lose him.

Leeds made overtures to both Swansea and Bartley in the early stages of the transfer window but expected a decision on the 27-year-old to wait until City had resolved the future of fellow centre-backs Alfie Mawson and Federico Fernandez.

Mawson and Fernandez are expected to move on from the Liberty Stadium after Swansea’s demotion to the Championship.

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Bartley, who has been with City since 2012, is understood to have made Swansea aware of his desire to take up a permanent switch to Elland Road but contact from Leeds dwindled last month and United have not be actively pushing for a deal since the appointment of new head coach Marcelo Bielsa.

Bartley was installed as a top target by Leeds prior to Bielsa’s arrival. He is well regarded at Elland Road after completing a highly impressive season-long loan with United during the 2016-17 campaign.

United’s defensive performance faltered dramatically in his absence last term and a central defender was high on the club’s list of priorities this summer but West Brom are attempting to force the issue with Swansea having planned a bid for Bartley in the aftermath of their relegation from the Premier League.