Leeds reportedly interested in Swansea duo Jefferson Montero and Daniel James

It’s not a secret that Leeds are reportedly interested in bringing in a couple of new faces in the transfer window. While Leeds United have reportedly sorted out the goalkeeper position, as they are rumoured to be bringing in Real Madrid’s Kiko Casilla on a permanent deal next week, the team is also rumoured to be looking at a few wingers.

Que up the rumours, as it’s Leeds we’re talking about here and few things get the press more excited and bring the clicks like a transfer rumour involving Leeds.

Leeds are reportedly interested in signing a pair of wingers from Swansea City. Daniel James and Jefferson Montero are the latest players to be linked, and they are sort of a contrast, as James is young, exciting, and would be a significant acquisition, while Montero is experienced international.

Daniel James is a 21 year-old winger who switch to Swansea from the Hull City U18s as a youth player. He’s made 16 league appearances for Swansea this season, scoring once and claiming four assists. He made one appearance in the FA Cup last season, where he scored a goal, and this year with Swansea in the Championship, he’s finally gotten a chance to play in the first team. He’s primarily a left winger, and he would be a international teammate of Tyler Roberts, as James has gotten a single call-up to the Wales national team.

Jefferson Montero would be almost the exact opposite kind of player. Montero is a 29 year-old left winger who has made 64 appearances for the Ecuador national team and he’s played in all over the world. He joined Swansea from Liga MX club Monarcas Morelia in the summer of 2014 after scoring five goals and netting three assists in 15 appearances in the 2013 Apertura and getting another assist in seven appearances in the Clausura 2014 before making the switch to England.

Montero made 34 appearances in all competitions for Swansea in the 2014-15 season, scoring once, played 25 times in all competitions in the 2015-16 season, getting one goal and two assists, and then 15 times in all competitions in the 2016-17 season, getting a single assist. He spent the 2017-18 season on loan at Getafe in Spain and CS Emelec in Ecuador. This season, he’s been injured a few times and has appeared 10 times and assisted twice.

James would be the more logical transfer of the two, as he’s young and is generally considered an up-and-coming prospect, but Swansea might be loathe to let him go. On the other hand, Montero can be exciting and is an experienced player who has scored 10 times for his national team, but has struggled with injury and is likely to be on a big wage. Swansea might be more than willing to let Montero go, but would he necessarily be a big upgrade over what is already at the club?

Put this rumour into the “okay, sure, whatever” category. If it’s true that Montero could be available on a loan, then it could be a possibility, but prying James out of Swansea’s hands could be a greater challenge, and Swansea will likely not want to let a young prospect go while they’re trying to get into the playoff picture in the second half of the season.