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SWANSEA City flier Jefferson Montero is the subject of interest from Mexican outfit Club America.
And while the speedster has reportedly told his Liga MX admirers he is keen to stay in Europe, it is not being ruled out that the Ecuador international could leave the Liberty this summer if the right deal comes up.
Club Amercia – coached by former Mexico national team boss Miguel Herrera – are widely claimed to have made Montero a target. Herrera has spoken about Montero, signed by Swansea from Mexican side Morelia in a £4m deal in 2014, with a loan deal having been mooted by media in Central America.
However, it has subsequently been claimed Montero (pictured below) is not keen on heading back to Mexico despite his Premier League struggles last season.
Montero made just two starts in the league last season as he succumbed to a succession of injuries as well as indifferent form. His return to fitness at the tail-end of the campaign lasted just half-anhour as a impact-less appearance off the bench against West Ham was followed by a luckless substitute outing at Manchester United where he was injured moments after coming on.
It has left some wondering whether the club would attempt to cash-in on the flier who has been unable to recapture the form of his early days at the club, including starring role on the opening day of the 2015/16 season where his display at Chelsea saw him linked with the likes of Bayern Munich.
Swansea could be tempted by an offer for the 63-cap wideman, though it remains to be seen what they would value the player at; though he has obvious issues remaining fit, he still has three years to run on the new contract he signed last August.
The club are understood to be keen on trimming their squad this summer and moving on those players unlikely to be able to make a starting impact. The future of Modou Barrow is still unclear after the Gambian failed to press his case for a Liberty future during a disappointing loan spell under Garry Monk at Leeds. Barrow will return to South Wales – along with fellow Leeds loanees Matty Grimes and, more significantly, Kyle Bartley – but Swansea had been ready to arrange a permanent deal before an 11th hour January day temporary agreement.
Furthermore, the club are known to be keen on reinforcements in the wide positions and have been linked with Nigerian youngster Henry Onyekuru of Belgiuan side Eupen. The 20-yearold has also been reported as a £6m target of Arsenal, though it is not clear whether the claimed Swansea interest is genuine.
Franck Tabanou has not agreed an end to his Swansea City contract – but the French flop will still be leaving.
Full-back Tabanou has proven a disastrous signing since arriving in a £3.5m deal from Saint-Etienne in 2015, failing to play a single minute of Premier League football.
He spent last year on loan at La Liga side Granada, but failed to impress, his performances described locally as “pedestrian”.
It’s seen Tabanou return to South Wales to thrash out his future and led to claims in France he has already agreed to have his contract terminated by mutual consent.
However, no agreement has been made, though a club spokesman did state: “We are talking with Franck to try and assist him in finding a new club this summer.”
Tabanou, 28, was signed on the back of the record eighth-placed finish to the 2014/15 season under Garry Monk and arrived with a good reputation for his attacking influence in Ligue 1.
But he spectacularly failed to make any kind of first-team challenge, appearing way short of fitness in League Cup outings.