Bristol City and Swansea City in transfer battle for midfielder | OneFootball

Former Empoli man Liam Henderson could be a smart pick up for one of the Championship sides

Championship sides Bristol City and Swansea City are set to do battle over the signature of Empoli midfielder Liam Henderson.

That’s according to Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke, who revealed that the two second-tier outfits are eyeing a move for Henderson.

The 29-year-old is set to be available on a free transfer as his deal with his current Serie A side expires this summer.

It would mark the midfielder’s return to the United Kingdom, having spent his career in Italy since moving to Bari in 2018.

Bristol City and Swansea to battle over Henderson

The Robins and the Swans are the only two names to emerge in connection with a move for Henderson, as per Football Insider's report on Saturday.

But, with the experience he brings and his availability on a free transfer, it wouldn’t be a shock to see others enter the fray.

The former Scotland youth international rose up through Celtic’s academy as a youngster, before making the move to Italian side Bari in 2018.

From there, he’s turned out for Hellas Verona, Empoli, Lecce and Palermo in a mixture of loans and permanent moves.

Around half of his time in Italy has been spent in the second tier, but he has still been able to rack up 104 Serie A outings.

Such experience from one of Europe’s top five leagues, attached to a player still in his prime years, is not something often available to Championship sides on a free transfer.

Henderson signing would be a much-needed boost for the Robins

There is no sugar-coating the fact that it has been a rough start to the summer for Bristol City.

Since he arrived in the dugout in 2023, former boss Liam Manning had been the figurehead of a budding project at Ashton Gate, but fellow Championship side Norwich City managed to poach him at the beginning of June.

The Robins are yet to appoint a replacement, but it will not be easy to better Manning, who secured his side a play-off spot last term, against the odds.

Landing a signing with the profile and experience of Henderson, and beating division rivals to his signature in the process, would restore some semblance of confidence back into the club.

There’s no denying Swansea has an attraction

But Bristol City will have their work cut out, because Swansea looks an exciting proposition right now.

The Swans have already kicked their transfer business off, landing Ricardo Santos on a free from Bolton, signing young striker Bobby Wales from Kilmarnock, and splashing out a “significant” sum for winger Zeidane Inoussa.

It’s clear they mean business, but the Welsh side have another ace up their sleeve.

Legendary former Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modrić became a co-owner of the club earlier this year, and such is his commitment to the new venture, he’s also reportedly looking at a house in the area.

The signing of Inoussa himself is believed to have been agreed partly thanks to the work of Modric, who rang the winger to convince him of the Swansea project before signing.

As a midfielder himself, it’s not hard to imagine Henderson admiring Modric, so any involvement from the Croatia international could hold strong sway.