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Paul Clement has hinted he is ready to give Borja Baston the chance to prove he’s no record flop following his miserable time as Swansea’s £15m man.

Borja arrived at the Liberty Stadium amid huge excitement last summer when he became the club’s most expensive signing following his big-money move from Atletico Madrid.

The 24-year-old’s August capture had helped soften the blow of the recent departures of captain Ashley Williams and last year’s top-scorer Andre Ayew, with his goalscoring record in La Liga suggesting he would add to Swansea’s firepower options.

(Image: Getty Images)

But a succession of early injuries, managerial instability and a failure to make a mark when give a chance saw Borja endure a dreadful debut in the Premier League, managing just one goal in 18 outings.

He has seen rookie striker Oli McBurnie preferred to him at one stage as back up to Fernando Llorente, while Jordan Ayew has also jumped ahead of him in the pecking order after his January switch from Aston Villa.

His last league start was the Boxing Day thumping by West Ham, a defeat that proved the final straw for manager Bob Bradley, one of only four appearances in the matchday XI.

It has prompted suggestions Swansea would be willing to offload the former Spain youth international, Valencia having declared an interest in the winter transfer window.

But while boss Clement has admitted the frontman has disappointed, he has insisted he has not given up hope on the Atleti product and pointed to a history of Spanish imports taking a time to adapt to new surroundings.

Clement accepted Borja’s situation was “a major discussion point”, and said: “He’s has not had the year he or we would have wanted – but that does not mean he does not have a future here. We have to talk about what is best for him and club moving forward.

(Image: Athena Pictures)

“I can understand his overall frustration but what I would say is that some La Liga players have found transition difficult. Fernando Llorente is slightly different as he had played in Italy before coming here, but there is a long list of Spanish players who have taken time to adapt. Maybe he needed to settle this year and we will see best of him next season.

“We will meet with him and see his thoughts are but, as it stands, I would expect him to be here next season. He has a long term contract but he is a major discussion point.”