Modou Barrow Confirmed As Fourth Summer Signing

03 August 2017
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading have completed the signing of Swansea winger Modou Barrow for 1.5 million pounds. Barrow, who is Reading's fourth signing of the summer, spent three seasons with the Premier League side after joining them from FK Ostersunds in Sweden for the same value.

His debut for Swansea, in November 2014, was a memorable 2-1 home victory against Arsenal. The Gunners were a goal up with 67 minutes on the click when Barrow came off the bench. Swansea went on to score two late goals to claim the victory.

The Royals have been rumoured to be chasing the player for some time and had to go back with an increased bid after initial offers were rejected.

Barrow spent most of his Swansea career on the bench and had 21 starts for the club with a further 34 appearances as a substitute. His last start for the Swans was back in December 2016 - a 0-3 defeat at Middlesbrough. He scored two goals during his time at Swansea and also had loan spells at Nottingham Forest, Blackburn and, most recently at Leeds United. After losing his place in the Swansea team he headed out on loan at the turn of the year and made five appearances for Leeds.

Reading have completed the signing of Swansea winger Modou Barrow for 1.5 million pounds. Barrow, who is Reading's fourth signing of the summer, spent three seasons with the Premier League side after joining them from FK Ostersunds in Sweden for the same value.
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His debut for Swansea, in November 2014, was a memorable 2-1 home victory against Arsenal. The Gunners were a goal up with 67 minutes on the click when Barrow came off the bench. Swansea went on to score two late goals to claim the victory.
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The Royals have been rumoured to be chasing the player for some time and had to go back with an increased bid after initial offers were rejected.
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Barrow spent most of his Swansea career on the bench and had 21 starts for the club with a further 34 appearances as a substitute. His last start for the Swans was back in December 2016 - a 0-3 defeat at Middlesbrough. He scored two goals during his time at Swansea and also had loan spells at Nottingham Forest, Blackburn and, most recently at Leeds United. After losing his place in the Swansea team he headed out on loan at the turn of the year and made five appearances for Leeds.

Discussion On This Story:

  loyalroyal4life

» 20 Jul 2017 05:53

Deal Agreed to sign Barrow from Swansea for around £1.25m

  Stranded

» 20 Jul 2017 06:14

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11673/10954646/reading-agree-1-25m-deal-to-sign-modou-barrow-from-swansea

  Royal_jimmy

» 20 Jul 2017 06:30

Well this is an interesting one. McCleary must be out for longer than we thought. £1.25m seems pretty good value for him though. 40 games in the premier league too

  Royal Rother

» 20 Jul 2017 06:31

Oh look, another non-scoring winger. Yay.
Shame Fosu and Stacey never got a chance.

  Hound

» 20 Jul 2017 07:01

Considering the amount of games he has played, really can't remember much about him at all
Seems to be very good value for someone who was in the Swansea first team for much of last season
Should be a good addition to the squad anyway. My guess is we'll start 4-3-3 again this season and prob have him, Popa (who I reckon will do well this year) and JDB up front for the first game

  Hound

» 20 Jul 2017 07:30

Searching around a bit online, seems he is very quick. Which I think is a definitely an area we are lacking in
Possibly similar to Aluko who we were also linked with. Good bit of business if it happens

  TFF

» 20 Jul 2017 07:35

and we already have a song for him. Perfick

  LumpWarden

» 20 Jul 2017 07:38

Monk signed him at Swansea then decided to take him on loan to Leeds => can't be too shabby

  Barcelona Blue

» 20 Jul 2017 07:41

its always hard to tell from best clips but looks lighting fast in some of these
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qxSbtqBHhs&t=323s

  Slater1993

» 20 Jul 2017 07:58

He is Lightning! Remember seeing him on TV, should do well if given a proper run in the team.
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/05/25/the-five-fastest-players-in-the-premier-league-this-season-totte/
3rd fastest in the PL.

  Pepe the Horseman

» 20 Jul 2017 07:59

From my Swans supporting m8.

  loyalroyal4life

» 20 Jul 2017 08:28


Hardly played for Leeds though

  Sutekh

» 20 Jul 2017 08:49

Well as long as he doesnt justify the nickname of "wheel" then Should be good move

  Nameless

» 20 Jul 2017 08:51



I read an article about him a while back that gave exactly the opposite impression. Player who has come up the hard way, pretty grounded and proud to be repres noting Gambia in the English leagues.

One training ground incident (being held by the throats by someone else isn't really showing a bad attitude is it ?) is thin stuff to use against a player. Doubt there are many players who have not had the odd disagreement on the training ground.

  Wycombe Royal

» 20 Jul 2017 09:03



I read an article about him a while back that gave exactly the opposite impression. Player who has come up the hard way, pretty grounded and proud to be repres noting Gambia in the English leagues.

One training ground incident (being held by the throats by someone else isn't really showing a bad attitude is it ?) is thin stuff to use against a player. Doubt there are many players who have not had the odd disagreement on the training ground.
So Barrow has a bad attitude for being held by the throat by Rangel, so what about Rangel? It would appear he has an even poorer attitude.......

  wiggso

» 20 Jul 2017 09:10



I read an article about him a while back that gave exactly the opposite impression. Player who has come up the hard way, pretty grounded and proud to be repres noting Gambia in the English leagues.

One training ground incident (being held by the throats by someone else isn't really showing a bad attitude is it ?) is thin stuff to use against a player. Doubt there are many players who have not had the odd disagreement on the training ground.
So Barrow has a bad attitude for being held by the throat by Rangel, so what about Rangel? It would appear he has an even poorer attitude.......

Yeah I always though Rangel was a bellend

and his first name rhymes with his surname

  Hound

» 20 Jul 2017 09:12

yeah, could be for anything. Slightly late tackle, just a bit of over competitiveness etc
I get the feeling we make a large effort to sign the right kind of person as well as player. Team spirit was key for us doing so well last year. Anyone who seemed to have a bit of attitude - i.e. Mutch, maybe Oxford to a lesser extent, were quickly shipped out or dropped

  genome

» 20 Jul 2017 09:18

Would rather have Wheel

  genome

» 20 Jul 2017 09:20

In all seriousness, we were crying out for pace up top last season, especially on the wings, so I'm all for this.

  blythspartan

» 20 Jul 2017 09:21

This could be a great signing for us. We have really been missing a very quick direct player for a while now.
I never quite get the no end product critiscm, as many very quick players e.g. Aaron Lennon have no end product. What they can do is panic defences and help other players find room, If they were the complete package they wouldn't be within our budget.

  winchester_royal

» 20 Jul 2017 09:26

Interesting - felt we needed to add some pace to the team so nice to see that being addressed.
Sketchy record, but there's obviously some potential and quality in there. If Jaap can work his magic then we'll have ourselves a bargain. If he can't then at least it's a relatively 'cheap' gamble that hasn't paid off.

  CountryRoyal

» 20 Jul 2017 09:31

I'm really trying hard to get behind these signings... just gotta trust that's it all in Stam's master plan I guess... :?

  Hound

» 20 Jul 2017 09:33



Interesting you say that. I think they have made 3 very good value signings if this one comes off. All with a reasonable amount of experience, good age. I would also like to see as good a striker as we can afford come in, but other than that I think we are looking very strong

  CountryRoyal

» 20 Jul 2017 09:37



Interesting you say that. I think they have made 3 very good value signings if this one comes off. All with a reasonable amount of experience, good age. I would also like to see as good a striker as we can afford come in, but other than that I think we are looking very strong

Like everyone else was obviously slightly deterred by Wolves fan's comments about Bod, and his goal return, but I thought about the bigger picture, and trusted Stam's judgment. Was very meh about Mannone too, but quickly came around.
This will be no different... at the moment i find it a bit uninspiring, but give it a few hours probably and I'll have warmed to the idea. :lol:

  linkenholtroyal

» 20 Jul 2017 10:19



Interesting you say that. I think they have made 3 very good value signings if this one comes off. All with a reasonable amount of experience, good age. I would also like to see as good a striker as we can afford come in, but other than that I think we are looking very strong

Like everyone else was obviously slightly deterred by Wolves fan's comments about Bod, and his goal return, but I thought about the bigger picture, and trusted Stam's judgment. Was very meh about Mannone too, but quickly came around.
This will be no different... at the moment i find it a bit uninspiring, but give it a few hours probably and I'll have warmed to the idea. :lol:
If this is a signing to add pace and not the answer to our striking crisis then this is a solid signing. If not then it worries me a little we are spending money on a position in which we already have a glut of talent.

I still feel we need a utility player in defence I like Jason Lowe Ex Blackburn on a free for this.

A Target man (where he is going to come from I have no idea)

And a CM, I would love Ledley, to do the link play from Defence.

  Roar on the Royals

» 20 Jul 2017 10:19

I remember watching MOTD he's lightening quick...
He can be our next Jimmy Kebe who can get fans off their seats whenever he has space to run with the ball !

  Oilroyal

» 20 Jul 2017 10:42

Good read ....... "Wales online, March 16"
"Barrow is more than speed, though, possessing a trick or two that hasn’t been seen enough from Montero who tends to just push past a man. There are suggestions his final ball is better too while it was interesting that Ki Sung-Yueng, when asked to name his most skillful teammate, opted for ‘Mo’ who he claimed was like Messi in training but could now do with it being shown on the Premier League pitch".
and......"Barrow does seem to have a greater defensive responsibility to his game"
full write up here

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/swansea-city-see-modou-barrow-11029224

  Hound

» 20 Jul 2017 10:42

As mentioned elsewhere I just don't think we're lacking anywhere especially. Top notch striker obviously would be good, but even without we are ok.
We have the following defenders: Obita, Blackett, Moore, Cooper, Ilori, McShane, Gunter, Watson. Plus players who can fill in, such as Joey if desperate. All good if not very good defenders at this level.
CM we have Evans, Kelly, Swift, Joey, Quinn plus a couple of youngsters like Rinomhata. Also players like Beerens, Ilori who could do a job
Up front and wing we have Popa, Beerens, Mendes, JDB, Barrow if he comes. Plus McCleary, Harriott and Kermie hopefully by October time.
We can make two competitive teams out of that lot.

  Hound

» 20 Jul 2017 11:33

Interestingly after all that, the chron are suggesting the deal isn't happening now...

  Anonymous

» 20 Jul 2017 11:35



Doesn't it say it's just not imminent?
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