Bafe’s still waiting for his Turkish delight

SWANSEA City are still locked in talks with Galatasaray over a deal for exiled striker Bafetimbi Gomis.

As reported by WalesOnline earlier this month, Gomis is thought to have agreed personal terms with the Turkish giants over a permanent move away from the Liberty having spent last year on loan at Marseille.

It is thought Gomis has no desire to return to South Wales and is believed to have spoken to manager Paul Clement, who had left the door open for the 31-year-old to head back to the Liberty after admitting he had been impressed with his scoring record in Ligue 1 at the tail-end of last season.

But Swansea have not yet agreed a fee for the player – whose wages they would like to get off the books – and are still discussing an arrangement with the Istanbul club.

There had been talk regarding other interest in Gomis after Marseille pulled out of a permanent deal for the player they made captain last term, but there was no truth in suggestions of a shock cash-plus-player deal that would see Emannuel Adebayor head to South Wales.

It is not clear what fee the Swans are asking for Gomis, who has a year left on his contract in South Wales; the former France international having been one of the higher-paid players at the club following his Bosman move from Lyon three years ago. There has been talk of a £2m-£3m price for a player who hit 20 goals during his time in the French top division last year.

The club have maintained the two parties are still talking while chairman Huw Jenkins has been quoted by Turkish media confirming the discussions, but adding that there is still some way to go.

Gomis is expected to sign a threeyear deal if the clubs can hammer out an agreement, with Galatasaray eyeing up the 12-cap international as a replacement for former Germany ace Lukas Podolski, who has joined Japanese club Vissell Kobe.

Meanwhile, Malaga are the latest La Liga club linked as ready to end Borja Baston’s Swansea struggles – but the Liberty’s record signing could be priced out of a move back to Spain.

The Swans shelled out an unprecedented £15.5m for the 24-year-old last summer, but he has rarely looked like being able to deliver on the price-tag that usurped the £12m paid for Wilfried Bony three years earlier.

With just one goal, questions over his fitness and having been axed from the squad by all three of Swansea’s managers last season – including survival mastermind Paul Clement – there has already been thoughts of moving the Atletico Madrid purchase on.

Borja was reported to have changed agents to engineer a move back to Spain, where the Atleti youth product gained his reputation with an impressive scoring record while on loan with minnows Eibar.

Valencia had been interested in a deal in January, only for the plug to be pulled late on deadline day, while Levante are said to have made their interest known.

There are claims that Borja has several suitors in Spain, with La Liga side Malaga now the most prominent as they brace themselves for the departure of frontman Sandro Ramirez to Everton.

Yet Swansea are both cautious of leaving themselves light on attacking options, and are keen to recoup a good chunk of their record outlay if they are to let Borja leave after one goal and 14 league appearances, only four of which were starts and none coming under Clement.

That could scupper Spanish hopes of seeing Borja return, with Malaga only likely to receive £5m for Sandro due to a release clause in his contract.

Borja is not thought to be on hefty wages at the Liberty, meaning Swansea are in no rush to offload him despite it being unlikely he can force his way into the reckoning.