Can Alfie Mawson revive his career if Wycombe sign him?

Rumours are circulating that former Wycombe Wanderers defender Alfie Mawson could re-join the club this summer.

The 28-year-old, who played for the Chairboys in the 2014/15 season, will become a free agent on July 1 after his current club, Fulham, confirmed that they will not renew his contract.

He joined the Cottages in 2018 for an eye-watering £20m from Swansea City.

This came off the back of Fulham’s promotion to the Premier League after a four-year absence, which was the same year that the Swans were relegated from the top-flight.

However, his career stalled in West London it what has been a stop-start spell for the former fan favourite at Adams Park.

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In total, he played just 52 times across four seasons for Fulham as they yo-yoed between the Championship and the Premier League.

And with him soon to be a free agent, will a move back to the Chairboys revive what was a soaring career?

Alfie Mawson’s rise from the Non League to the Premier League in just two years

Born and raised in Hillingdon, Mawson started his career with Reading before he joined Brentford in 2010, signing a two-year scholarship.

During those two years he played just once for the Bees as he spent most of his time out on loan in the Non League

Three separate spells at Maidenhead United along with appearances for Luton Town and Welling United respectively, paved the way for him to develop as an EFL player, with Wycombe Wanderers, then of League Two, giving him that first opportunity.

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It was the 2014/15 season, and it was a campaign that made his name.

One of the first players on Gareth Ainsworth’s team sheet, his first-full season as an EFL player saw the centre back play 50 matches and scored seven goals, with those strikes coming in the final 15 games of the season.

However, that campaign ended in heartbreak as the club lost the League Two play-off final on penalties against Southend United.

Alfie Mawson after the 2015 League Two play-off final which Wanderers lost (Anita Ross Marshall)

The performances of Mawson for Wanderers made him noticeable across the football pyramid with many teams now trying to land his signature, with Barnsley of League One signing the highly-rated centre back.

READ MORE: Alfie Mawson says his breakthrough season has been “surreal” after joining Wycombe Wanderers on loan from Brentford

He would only spend a solitary season with the Oakwell side, winning the play-off final and the Football League Trophy.

Between August 2014 and August 2016, he played an incredible 112 games and scored 16 goals, making his stock very high.

This landed him a move to Swansea City of the Premier League for around £5 and after two years in South Wales, his £20m transfer to Fulham was confirmed.

Would a move back to Buckinghamshire work for Mawson?

With Anthony Stewart’s departure from Wanderers to Aberdeen confirmed, the club are on the lookout to find the perfect replacement for a centre back who was ever-reliable for Ainsworth.

A defender who can read the game well, head, tackle, lead, score goals, and understands League One football will be required to fill the void left by Stewart, and Mawson ticks all those boxes.

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Even though the centre-back’s career has stalled in recent seasons, there is no doubt that he has all the attributes to succeed at a League One level.

And following his previous spell at the club, there is nothing to suggest he can’t replicate that form which made him a fan favourite in South Buckinghamshire.

Mawson played six times for the England Under 21 side between 2016 and 2017 (PA)

It is also important to remember that in just one season with Wanderers, Mawson won the Supporters’ and Players’ Player of the Year, the Official Wycombe Wanderers Supporters Association’s Player, Young Player, the Away Travel Player of the Year awards and the Wycombe Wanderers Independent Supporters’ Club Player of the Year award.

READ MORE: Gareth Ainsworth hails Mawson and Eze as ‘success stories’ for Wycombe

Mawson would be hugely welcomed back by the fans who fell in love with his style of play, and his potential signing could be the perfect replacement following Stewart’s exit.

And with Chris Forino also hoping to continue his development, the 28-year-old could act as a mentor for the young central defender.