According to Sky Sports, Burnley are interested in signing Swansea centre-back Alfie Mawson. Reports suggest that the two clubs are in negotiations over the player, but the Clarets are not prepared to pay the asking price.

Mawson looks set to stay in the Premier League after Swansea suffered relegation from the top-flight last season. Everton and West Ham are also believed to be monitoring the defender’s situation in South Wales.

Mawson is developing into a top defender

Despite the Swans relegation, Mawson enhanced his reputation significantly last season with the Welsh club. In fact, the 24-year-old came close to playing his way into Gareth Southgate’s young England squad, having been called up for pre-World Cup friendly games.

At Swansea, he looked like he was learning and getting better as a defender with every game he played. Mawson also comes across as a leader in that team, which is commendable as he only arrived from Championship Barnsley back in 2016.

Wasted in the Championship

There were few Premier League quality players left in the Swansea squad by the time they suffered relegation. In truth, the quality of the Welsh clubs squad and team has been diluted for years.

In recent years big players like Ashley Williams, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente all left, which left a lack of quality in their squad. The players that have arrived at the club have not been of the standard.

Some players do remain loyal to their clubs following relegation. Top-flight clubs usually pick up the best ones, though.

Due to the lack of quality, there was hardly likely to be a queue of clubs waiting to rescue the Swansea players. Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has been one of the Swans outstanding players for the last few years and was never likely to stay with the club after relegation. The Poland international joined West Ham earlier this summer.

Mawson is in the same bracket. At 24-years-old, the defender has a lot of scope for improvement. However, he is unlikely to fulfil his potential if he is stuck in the second tier at Swansea.

If he is to fulfil his potential then joining another Premier League club is in his best interests, especially if he wishes to play for England in the near future.

Likely to join a Premier League club

I have to say it is hard to see Mawson staying in the Championship with Swansea. He has too much quality and potential. I am surprised more top-flight clubs have not shown an interest in signing the defender this summer.

In fact, he would not be a bad signing for some of the teams higher up the Premier League food chain. Alfie Mawson is no doubt a defender who is going places, maybe even literally this summer.

I feel sorry for Swansea that they are likely to lose the defender. However, the clubs hierarchy has caused this situation with a lack of investment in the team. The Swans suffering relegation has been an accident waiting to happen for years. Losing their best players is just a consequence.

Where will Alfie Mawson be plying his trade next season?