Sheffield United and Swansea City plotting Leyton Orient transfer raid | OneFootball

Leyton Orient midfielder Ethan Galbraith has reportedly emerged on the radar of Sheffield United and Swansea City.

Sheffield United and Swansea City are reportedly interested in signing Leyton Orient midfielder Ethan Galbraith this summer.

That's according to journalist Pete O'Rourke, who claims that Sheffield United and Swansea are both lining up a move for Galbraith after an outstanding season for Leyton Orient in League One.

The O's sat in the relegation zone as recently as December, but a stunning second half of the season saw them finish sixth in the table, and Galbraith played a crucial role in his side's success, contributing with a number of important goals and assists.

Galbraith and his teammates were unable to secure promotion as they were beaten 1-0 by Charlton Athletic in the play-off final at Wembley last month, and Orient could now be vulnerable to losing the Northern Ireland international, who can play in central midfield or at right-back.

The 24-year-old signed a two-year contract when he joined the O's on a free transfer in the summer of 2023 following his release by Manchester United, meaning that his deal was initially set to expire this summer, but the club activated an option earlier this month to keep hold of him for another year.

Sheffield United and Swansea City eyeing Ethan Galbraith swoop

After failing to achieve automatic promotion following a late-season collapse, Sheffield United suffered further heartbreak as they were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland in the play-off final, but with manager Chris Wilder looking set to remain in charge, they will be hoping to challenge at the top end of the Championship again next term.

Swansea finished 11th in the table last season after a strong end to the campaign under Alan Sheehan, who has now been appointed as the club's new permanent head coach, and the Welsh side have already been active in the transfer market this summer, with their business including the eye-catching £5.1 million signing of winger Zeidane Inoussa from BK Hacken.

As they continue their preparations for the new season, O'Rourke claims that the pair have set their sights on Galbraith, and it is not the first time the Swans have been linked with the midfielder, having first targeted him in the January transfer window.

After triggering their option to extend Galbraith's contract for a further year, Orient will be hoping they can retain him this summer, but speaking after the play-off final defeat, manager Richie Wellens dropped a worrying hint that some of the club's stars could be set to depart.

"Every year that I’m at this football club, the first year I join, when we’re 20th in the league [League Two], I have the last 13 games, and we stay up, then I lose two or three of my best players," Wellens said.

"The year after we win League Two, I lose 5 of my best players. Then we finish 11th last year. I lose five of my best players.

"We finish sixth this year and got beat in the final. Potentially you’re going to lose six or seven players, so it’s really difficult for me.

"I’m gutted about losing the game, don’t get me wrong, but more heartbreaking for me is that I won’t get to work with these players as a group and as a collective again."

Of course, Wellens would mainly have been referring to some of his side's star loanees who have now returned to their parent clubs, including Josh Keeley, Jack Currie, Jamie Donley and Charlie Kelman, but as Championship clubs start to circle, the O's could be facing a battle to hold on to Galbraith.

Sheffield United could have advantage over Swansea City in Ethan Galbraith race

Galbraith was one of the standout players in League One last season, so Orient may need to prepare for his departure this summer, but activating the extension option in his contract means they will at least receive a transfer fee for the midfielder, rather than losing him for free.

With Luka Modrić now on board as co-owner of Swansea and the club showing plenty of ambition in the transfer market, Galbraith could see Swansea as an exciting project to become part of, but Sheffield United would surely be a more attractive destination.

After their play-off final agony, the Blades will go into next season as one of the promotion favourites in the Championship, and Galbraith may look at how Harrison Burrows has thrived at Bramall Lane after making the move from League One and be keen to follow in his footsteps.