BOXING DAI
Swans want new boss in place by December 26 and De Boer is the new favourite for the Liberty Stadium
SWANSEA hope to have a new manager installed by Boxing Day – with the promise of January reinforcements.
The Welsh club now accepts it has been their recruitment which is the root of the problems which have left Swansea rock bottom of the Premier League.
Their majority American shareholders Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien are keen to improve scouting and signings for the long-term.
They are prepared to bankroll signings in January but it is unlikely to be huge money amid the risk of going down.
Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins was known for his creative signings and sensible running of the club which has taken them through the divisions and into the top flight.
But the squad has steadily gone backwards in the past three seasons and privately axed boss Paul Clement saw last summer’s transfer business as the reason they did not kick on. Swansea sold Fernando Llorente and Gylfi Sigurdsson in the summer for big money, but the loan signing of Renato Sanches from Bayern Munich has been a big disappointment.
They have struggled badly this season but tried to give Clement every chance and will now hope they get a double boost from a new manager.
Veteran Swansea midfielder Leon Britton will be in charge against Crystal Palace today and then they hope to have a new chief for the Boxing Day clash with Liverpool.
Jenkins sounded out former Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal and also former Everton manager Ronald Koeman.
But they have struggled to attract stellar names to the Liberty Stadium as it means going into a relegation battle with a struggling squad. They are now talking to former Palace boss Frank de Boer (right) and he looks to be the new favourite. The Dutchman could be a hard sell after being sacked following just four Premier League games in charge at Selhurst Park, but he is keen and is trying to convince them he can turn it around. They have also spoken to ex-Middlesbrough chief Aitor Karanka who is out of work and wants to return to management. Caretaker boss Britton could still be in charge for the Boxing Day trip to Liverpool. And after 15 years at Swansea as a player, the 35-year-old said: “I’m going to have to lay the law down. “I’ve got a fair idea of the team, but the most important thing in this situation is that we’ve all got to be together. It’s about the team, it’s not about the individual. “Decisions are going to be hard because I’ve shared a lot of good memories with these lads and I’m good friends with them. “But, by taking this role on at the football club, I know that’s one of the things I’ll have to do.”