Skipper admits ‘panic’ over departure
level more in line with what they believe the player is worth. Some Swans fans will cling to the hope of the pair remaining in South Wales on the back of the offers being rejected, but that is unlikely in the extreme.
NO NEED FOR A COMPLETE GUTTING OF THE SQUAD
But, while relegation has been a hard blow to weather, and there will be cuts to be made on the playing side, Swansea will not feel the need to simply rush all of their saleable assets out the door. They are ready to listen to offers for Wilfried Bony, who is attracting interest on the continent, and are expected to speak to Sevilla over a deal for Roque Mesa, pictured left, as the Spanish club look to turn the midfielder’s loan spell into a permanent switch. There will be no shortage of deals this summer, why not make sure you maximise them? But there will need to be an element of compromise here.
GETTING MEN IN THE REAL CHALLENGE
That comes in the form of the calendar, in just eight weeks the Swans will be playing their first game of the season.
That gives them very little time to turn things around.
Additionally, the transfer window shuts earlier this season, further limiting the time to do the necessary rebuilding work ahead of the campaign.
Swansea cannot afford to find themselves in a similar situation to last term where waiting on the Sigurdsson sale impacted on their incoming transfer business.
Time is very much of the essence, there is much to be done this summer on and off the field, and Potter’s arrival should kick things off when it comes to new faces arriving at the Liberty.
And that is what it will ultimately boil down to, who Graham Potter has at his disposal when the meaningful action gets under way in August.
But, for now, taking a strong stand sends the right message. >
OSTERSUNDS captain Brwa Nouri admits there has been panic at the Swedish club since it was confirmed that Graham Potter would depart to join Swansea City.
The Swans announced on Monday that a compensation package had been agreed with the Swedish outfit for Potter to take charge at the Liberty Stadium, with assistants Billy Reid and Kyle Macaulay also set to move with the 43-year-old to south Wales.
He is set to be confirmed as Swansea’s new boss next week ahead of what will be the club’s first season in the Championship since they gained promotion under Brendan Rodgers in 2010-11.
And Nouri has revealed there has been huge concern at the Swedish club following the confirmation that Potter – who secured three promotions and won the Swedish Cup during his time with Ostersunds – would arrive in Swansea early next week to complete his move to SA1.
“Of course it has been a pain (Potter leaving),” Nouri told Studio Allsvenskan. “He has raised us, given us our identities and then he will just leave. Who are we now? Where does it go?
“It’s like we’ve gotten out on a boat, at sea, together – but in the middle of everything, the captain leaves and now we have to manage ourselves.
“But at the same time, we love him and understand that he had to take on a big assignment. But we are egoists and want him for ourselves. It’s quite hard and people have had a bit of panic.
“People have been picked up for the season and came for Graham’s sake - then he will leave.
“Then I learn to shoulder the role and say it’s calm – but it’s hard. People are afraid and fear is not the easiest to cure.
“What has been in the dressing room is that people are a little panicked, but as the team captain I must try to calm down the place.”
Potter is set to have a hectic start to life as Swansea boss when he arrives in south Wales, with a number of decisions on his squad needed to be made swiftly. With the World Cup taking place in Russia, Potter will have a limited amount of time in which he can put together a squad that he feels can perform in the Championship given that the summer transfer window closes on August 9 – before the season gets going.