It’s sardines rather than lobsters

SWANSEA boss Carlos Carvalhal is confident he will be given funds to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window but reckoned he may have to settle for “sardines” rather than “lobsters or sea bass“.

The Portuguese manager, who replaced the sacked Paul Clement last month, said he met the club’s chairman Huw Jenkins over recruitment following Swansea’s 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Tuesday.

“We have money for sardines and I’m thinking lobster,” Carvalhal told reporters ahead of Swansea’s FA Cup third round trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers today.

“I will do my best to try and bring in the best players. I will look to the lobsters and sea bass but if not we must buy sardines. But sometimes the sardines can win games.

“There are limits. I understand this is a responsible club and they don’t want to create a problem for the club in the future.”

With the club rooted to the bottom of the league, Carvalhal accepts it could be difficult attract to quality players willing to contribute in a relegation battle.

“Not all players would come to a team that’s fighting like us to stay in the competition,” he added.

“We need cover in positions, the chairman knows this and we must check players. I cannot tell you the names of the players because it is a principle of mine not to talk about players not in my squad.”

His Burnley counterpart Sean Dyche said the club have the money to spend on transfers but it will depend on the availability of players in the market.

“There’s an appropriate amount but January’s tough,” Dyche said.

“We’ve looked at things but it’s all about availability. — Reuters