Arsenal and Spurs linked with defender compared to a ‘heavyweight boxer’

Robin Bairner

• 14 Apr 2023 21:11 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal and Tottenham have been linked with a potential summer move for Swansea centre-back Nathan Wood – a player who has been likened to a “heavyweight boxer” by manager Russell Martin.

Fabrizio Romano reports that both Premier League clubs have been monitoring the 20-year-old defender, who is an England U21 international.

Wood has played 35 times for Swansea this season in the Championship, helping his club to a comfortable mid-table position.

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Previously, he was on the books of Middlesbrough, having joined the Swans for an undisclosed fee in June 2022. He had played only five league matches for Boro, with a brief loan spell at Crewe and an unsuccessful stint in the Scottish Premiership at Hibs.

He has since gone on to impress in England’s second tier and is now of interest to Arsenal and Tottenham, according to Romano.

Romano tweeted: “Nathan Wood, attracting interest after 2002-born CB impressed on England U21 debut and been outstanding for Swansea this season. Understand Arsenal and Tottenham are monitoring his performances closely. Swansea looking to try and extend his contract to prevent summer move.”

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Nathan Wood: Destined for the very top

Manager Martin, meanwhile, has spoken highly of the young talent.

“He is a huge asset to the football club, on the pitch and off the pitch,” the former Scotland international defender said. “He's been amazing – a young man who has just grown and grown on the pitch and off the pitch as well. He is becoming a real leader in the group.

“He is doing incredible stuff for us and if he continues doing that until the end of the season, I am sure there will be a lot of admirers. I just hope we get a bit longer to work with him than one season but we will have to wait and see.

"I look at him and he is 6ft 3in, he is built like a heavyweight boxer and he can run very fast. He displays unbelievable courage and technique on the ball, and just the amount of growth he has had this season. He's an incredible learner and he's incredibly brave with the way that he plays. He will play at the very top, no doubt about it. He will be a huge asset financially at some point.”

Swansea are clearly determined to secure the player’s future, but with Arsenal and Tottenham following him, the opportunity to cash in could be just around the corner.