Will Swans be shopping on Prem quality street, or searching out bargains for a Championship campaign?
AS the summer transfer window fast approaches, Swansea City’s precarious Premier League position leaves them with a number of issues.
One of them is that it’s almost impossible to formulate a definitive plan for recruitment over the next few months.
Obviously, whether or not the Swans avoid the drop will have a significant impact on how June and July look for the Liberty Stadium outfit.
What is for sure, though, is that there are always bargains on offer and there are plenty of contracts expiring in the next few weeks and that includes players in both the Premier League and Championship.
Here are two sets of players that the Swans might want to consider whether they’re playing in the top flight or not... If the Swans stay up... STAYING up would mean that the Swans would obviously set their sights a bit higher when it comes to signings.
They’ll be seeing the loans of Tammy Abraham, Renato Sanches and Andy King all come to and end, with the futures of Leon Britton, Angel Rangel and Ki Sung-yueng all uncertain.
That would indicate that there is a bit of problem brewing in the middle of the field.
There are a number of youngsters returning from loan spells of their own, but whether or not they’re ready to bolster that central midfield department remains to be seen.
The club will surely feel they need an extra striker to support Jordan Ayew, with Wilfried Bony unconvincing before injury ended his season. However, Oli McBurnie may be deemed ready after impressing with nine goals in 16 matches so far during his loan spell at Barnsley.
The possibility of Lukasz Fabianski looking for a new challenge this summer, even if the Swans stay up, has also been mooted.
The top 20 Premier League free agents this summer... Emre Can (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace), James McArthur (Crystal Palace), Joel Ward (Crystal Palace), Bakary Sako (Crystal Palace), James Morrison (West Brom), Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Robert Huth (Leicester City), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Joel Robles (Everton), Claudio Yacob (West Brom), Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Glen Johnson (Stoke City), Chris Brunt (West Brom), Charlie Adam (Stoke City), Scott Arfield (Burnley), Stephen Ward (Burnley).
Who could the Swans realistically look at...
THE Premier League free agent market is shaping up to be a bit of a strange one. There are a few real top class players and then the drop-off is pretty drastic.
Here are some the Swans might want to look at...
YOHAN CABAYE (CRYSTAL
PALACE): There are a handful of clubs queueing up for the Frenchman, not least, reportedly, in his homeland. But with potentially four central midfielders leaving in the summer, his Premier League experience would be a welcome addition despite his age (32). CLAUDIO YACOB (WEST BROM): Would likely jump at the chance to play Premier League football next season, with the Baggies, despite their mini revival under Darren Moore,
seemingly doomed. Would certainly bring some bite to the Swans midfield. LUKE SHAW (MANCHESTER
UNITED): Martin Olsson has had no-one to push him on the left side of defence and clearly Swansea will need to bring in someone to at least challenge him if not usurp the Sweden international. Shaw has had a tough time at United but is not short of quality. WAYNE HENNESSEY (CRYSTAL PALACE): The Wales international has been in and out of the side at Selhurst Park but remains a proven Premier League performer.
If the Swans go down...
SHOULD the worst happen and the Swans end up in the Championship next season, then there will be plenty to consider.
Their squad is likely to need a complete overhaul. The likes of the Ayew brothers, Fabianski, Federico Fernandez and other front line players are unlikely to stick around for a season in the second tier.
The situation of those youngsters returning on loan may also change. Oli McBurnie would probably be
viewed as a first choice striker for the Swans in the Championship.
The likes of Jay Fulton, Matt Grimes and Adam King could be the ones to fill vacancies in the midfield, for example.
The top 20 Championship free agents this summer...
Abel Hernandez (Hull City), Ryan Fredericks (Fulham), Joe Ledley (Derby County), Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City), Andy Yiadom (Barnsley), Bobby Reid (Bristol City), Andreas Bjelland (Brentford), Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City), Moses Odubajo (Hull City), Marc Wilson (Sunderland), Grant Leadbitter (Middlesbrough), Jan Kirchoff (Bolton), Sammy Ameobi (Bolton), Sebastian Larsson (Hull City), Alexander Tettey (Norwich City), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest), Adama Diomande (Hull City), Alan Hutton (Aston Villa), Teddy Bishop (Ipswich Town), Daniel Pudil (Sheffield Wednesday).
Who could the Swans look at...
IT’S far more difficult to predict where the club will need to strengthen if they do go down because you can’t say with a great deal of certainty who will stay and who will leave the club.
But here are a few that may be viewed as options...
ABEL HERNANDEZ (HULL CITY): His season has been severely hampered by injuries but he’s scored goals whenever he’s played, bagging 8 in ten appearances this year. Is likely to attract plenty of interest this summer, though.
DAVID MEYLER (HULL CITY): Has confirmed that he will be leaving the Tigers after falling out of favour with Nigel Adkins. The Ireland international still has something to offer at this level and would bring wealth of Premier League and Championship experience.
RYAN FREDERICKS (FULHAM): His current club’s fight for promotion will have a say in this but he has been linked with the Swans before and has looked very impressive lately. ANDY YIADOM (BARNSLEY): Another man Swansea have previously shown interest in and he has had another good season with the Tykes, who could yet be relegated to League One. In that case, it might be harder for the South Yorkshire club to keep him.