ROUTLEDGE STARS AS SWANS TAME WOLVES
FRANCESCO Guidolin last night refused to be drawn on the futures of two key players who have been linked with moves away from the Liberty. Captain Ashley Williams and frontman Andre Ayew have been the subject of speculation in recent days, with fellow Premier League clubs reportedly lining up big money moves for their services.
Williams is said to be a target for Everton, while West Ham have reportedly made contact over Ayew.
The Daily Mirror claim Williams is being eyed as a potential replacement for England defender John Stones who is closing in on a £50m move to Manchester City.
The Toffees could be prepared to pay up to £10m for the 31-year-old who still has two years left on his contract, according to the reports.
It is not the first time Williams has been at the centre of summer transfer speculation, with the likes of Everton, Sunderland and Crystal Palace linked in previous years. Williams joined Swansea from Stockport for £400,000 in 2008 and has gone on to become one of most respected defenders in the Premier League.
His stock has risen once again this summer after he led Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.
But a frustrated Guidolin batted away questions about his prized pair.
“I don’t want to speak about the transfer market. I can say that for me it is too long and every day I have to answer the same questions,” he said after Swansea beat Wolves 4-0 in their pre-season encounter.
As for the action yesterday, Wayne Routledge put in a masterful display as Swansea put a scrappy first half behind them to pull away from Championship opponents Wolves in the second period.
In the end it was another comfortable pre-season win for the Swans – they have now scored 11 in their last three games – but for much of the first 45 it looked as if Wolves might be roaring to victory.
With Andre Ayew’s future still in question, the Ghanaian started for the visitors but he had a relatively quiet afternoon before being replaced after 70 minutes.
Instead, it was two-goal Routledge who shone. He took his first majestically, controlling a cross on his chest before volleying powerfully past Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme.
It was a classy finish, although in terms of chances it was the hosts who went on to dominate the remainder of the half. Swans keeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt did well to turn the pick of the opportunities – a James Henry free kick which surely would have earned Federico Fernandez a red card in the regular season – over the bar. Swansea were much improved after the break, scoring on three of their frequent forays forward.
The first of the second period was another sumptuous goal, this time from the impressive Kyle Naughton, who skipped past one challenge on the byline and fired past Ikeme from a narrow angle.
A matter of a few minutes later Mo- dou Barrow – who created two goals against Swindon in midweek - got the first of two assists here, bursting down the right and squaring for Routledge to tap in.
Youngster Ollie McBurnie added gloss to the scoreline late on, firing low after being found by Barrow once again.
On club and Wales captain Williams, linked with a possible move to Everton, Guidolin described him as “a good guy and a good player” and added: “He is very important for us and I don’t know this situation and I can say nothing.”
Ayew, meanwhile, didn’t find the net at Molineux, but the Italian denied his centre forward had been affected by the question marks hanging over his future.
“The players are working hard and it’s normal to play well one time and not play so well another time,” Guidolin insisted. “Andre is happy and next week we begin another week of training sessions.”
The manager also said he could say nothing more on Swansea’s own search for a new striker, adding: “I have said before, three days ago, that I am happy with this group.”