Swansea set for full back Kyle Naughton swoop from Spurs

Swansea City, odds-on 8/11 with Coral for a top 10 Premier League finish, have signed Tottenham full back Kyle Naughton for a reported fee of £5m.

Garry Monk has money in the bank at the Liberty Stadium, and has spent some of the £27m windfall his Swans have received for selling Wilfried Bony to Manchester City on strengthening defence. This move has materialised after the South Wales outfit shipped five at home to Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Capable of operating on either flank of defence, Sheffield United academy product Naughton has failed to establish himself as a first-choice player at White Hart Lane, unlike old Bramall Lane teammate Kyle Walker. The 26-year-old has featured just 74 times in five seasons at Spurs across all competitions, but has reportedly penned a three-and-a-half-year deal with Swansea.

“I’m pleased it’s all done because there has been talk since the summer over a potential move,” Naughton said upon signing. “My main aim is to start playing regular football again. I know it’s going to be a tough challenge because there are some very good players here, but that’s my goal.”

This Swans swoop comes as Crystal Palace prepare an increased £4.5m bid for first-choice left back Neil Taylor. Eagles boss Alan Pardew is keen to add a natural left-footed option for that berth at Selhurst Park, but failed with his initial offer of £3m. Relegation rivals West Bromwich Albion are also said to be interested in Taylor.

Naughton’s transfer continues a steady stream of switches between Tottenham and the Swans. Mauricio Pochettino purchased Ben Davies, another full back, and former Liberty Stadium number one Michel Vorm this past summer; while allowing Gylfi Sigurdsson to re-join the Welsh club and England Under-21 midfielder Tom Carroll to follow him on loan.

Whether this now means Taylor will now leave to join Palace remains to be seen. Swansea may attracted Naughton because he has better prospects of regular first-team football, although they are in a sort of no man’s land of not challenging for the top six (20/1) and having no relegation fears (80/1). How their fortunes develop without top scorer Bony will be a subplot watched with keen interest,