Swindon Town are reportedly entertaining offers for versatile defender Tariq Uwakwe in the final week of the transfer window.

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Uwakwe will be allowed to leave on a free if an offer comes in for the defender before Friday’s deadline.

Uwakwe has struggled for fitness during his time at Town, starting seven games in a row during the nine-game unbeaten run to begin last season but injuries have blighted his time at the Nigel Eady County Ground since.

The 24-year-old sustained a knee injury against Reading in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy in October last year but as he returned to contention in February, he sustained a separate injury that ended his season.

As Town returned for pre-season under new boss Mark Kennedy, Uwakwe was not able to be involved in the friendly matches and the head coach hinted that he might not be part of his plans following a win at Melksham Town.

He said: “I think that it is unfair to talk about certain players, I have spoken to Tariq and he is a lovely kid, he is ill today and that is why he is not here.

“The most important thing is that he gets himself fit and healthy again, but the ins are easy to talk about because they are in and in terms of what we may do with other players, it is far too early, we haven’t made decisions on anybody yet.

“[Did he miss the other three games due to illness?] Yes.

“[Is that the whole reason he has been out and not training?] Pretty much.”

Kennedy then later revealed that a combination of factors including illness had seen him miss a lot of the preparations for the campaign, and with the head coach also having to spend time away from the group for personal reasons, he had not seen him play in person.

With the report by O’Rourke, it would seem that Town would be happy to part with the player following a tumultuous season with the club but it remains to be seen whether there is any interest in taking him off their hands based on his recent fitness record.

Uwakwe looks to be one of two senior players that Swindon are hoping to move on before the deadline, with Saidou Khan also likely to leave after he handed in a transfer request, although, according to Kennedy, he has already turned down potential new clubs.