Why Joe Pigott could be a shrewd signing for Swansea City
According to The Mirror (h/t Wales Online), Swansea City have been linked with a move for AFC Wimbledon striker Joe Pigott, with manager Steve Cooper willing to bolster his centre-forward ranks before next month’s summer deadline.
Championship rivals Reading have also been credited with an interest in the 26-year-old, who has only one year remaining on his current contract at Plough Lane and could be available at a meagre £200,000 in the market. (Mirror h/t Wales Online)
Profile
Joe Pigott rose through the youth ranks of Charlton Athletic but he struggled to establish himself as a regular fixture for the Addicks, making only 16 first-team appearances for his boyhood club.
He spent time on loan at Gillingham, Southend United, Newport County, Luton Town and Cambridge United in League One and League Two, as well as at non-league clubs Bromley and Maidstone United, before joining Maidstone on a permanent deal.
The 26-year-old was transferred to AFC Wimbledon in the third-tier back in January 2018 and has since registered 34 goals and 12 assists in 110 appearances for the Dons. Pigott has started the 2020-21 campaign on a positive note, bagging 2 goals and 4 assists in just three outings in League One.
Pigott would add more experience to Swansea’s attack
Swansea City have largely resorted to free transfers and loan deals to reshape their squad this summer, with finances hard to come by in the post-pandemic market.
The Swans have made a positive start to life in the Championship this season after suffering heartbreak in the playoff semi-final last term. The Welsh outfit have registered three wins and a draw from their first four league games, which is a clear indication that there hasn’t been a hangover of the disappointment from the previous campaign.
To that end, though, Swansea City need to address squad depth issues in several departments if they are to challenge for promotion once again. And bringing in an experienced centre-forward should definitely be on top of the club’s agenda before the deadline.
Cooper has utilised the likes of Andre Ayew and Jamal Lowe in front of goal to good effect so far but it’s worth noting that neither is a specialist centre-forward by trade. Welsh U-21 international Liam Cullen is expected to play a substantial role this season but Swansea ideally need a more experienced striker to compete for places.
Joe Pigott, to that end, might not be the most high-profile option in the market, having largely plied his trade with clubs in the lower echelons of English football. The 26-year-old, though, has a decent scoring record for Wimbledon in the third tier and with more than 270 club career appearances under his belt, Pigott certainly deserves a fair crack of the whip in the Championship.
Verdict
Joe Pigott’s £200,000 price tag makes him an ideal option in the market for the cash-strapped Swans. The 26-year-old’s arrival would not only increase competition for places in front of goal but also add some much-needed experience to a squad that relies largely on the exuberance of youth.
