Joseph set to make switch to join Swans
SWANSEA City are in advanced talks with Wigan Athletic over a move to sign Kyle Joseph, the Western Mail understands.
The Swans are determined to bolster their forward options ahead of the 202122 season and identified Joseph as a transfer target.
Swansea monitored the 19-year-old’s situation in January, but are now bidding to make the youngster their first signing of the summer transfer window.
Joseph is out of contract this month, but was offered fresh terms by the Latics.
Celtic, Rangers, Newcastle United, Preston North End and Sheffield United are among the clutch of clubs understood to have shown an interest in the promising forward.
However, he appears destined to secure a move to South Wales on a free transfer in the near future after positive talks with the Swans.
Given that Joseph is under 24 years of age, the Swans would be required to pay Wigan a compensation fee, with that sum yet to be determined.
Swansea are set to lose Wayne Routledge and Andre Ayew this month as the contracts of both players expire on June 30.
It leaves them with Jamal Lowe, Morgan Whittaker and Liam Cullen as their main forward options ahead of what will be their fourth successive season in the Championship.
It is understood Joseph, who netted five goals in 18 League One appearances for Wigan last season, would be seen as a player that could develop at the Liberty Stadium rather than being an instant first-team player.
The Swans remain keen to add to their forward options in addition to recruiting more creative players in a bid to ensure they can once again challenge for promotion next season.
The new campaign gets under way on the weekend of August 7.
Meanwhile, Swans loan man Conor Hourihane has admitted he’s “probably” on the move this summer.
Hourihane joined Swansea back in January and played a key role in getting his loan club into the Championship play-offs.
His early form, especially, gave Swansea a boost, with his dead ball expertise proving vital for Steve Cooper’s men.
His influenced waned slightly before the end of the campaign, and with Swansea failing to achieve promotion after defeat to Brentford at Wembley, the Republic of Ireland international will now head back to Villa Park.
But the 30-year-old acknowledged that he will likely have to move again this summer to get minutes.
“Probably so, there’s no getting away from that,” Hourihane said at an Ireland press conference yesterday.
“Firstly I have a couple of games with Ireland, then I’ll get a bit of down time, relaxation time as we have had two backto-back seasons, pretty much relentless for a long period of time.
“Then we’ll see what happens with the future after these games. I will be heading back to Villa for pre-season and see where we go from there.”
Hourihane has a year left on his contract in the Midlands but with Villa manager Dean Smith well stocked in the midfield department, the former Barnsley man will find his quest for game time tough in the top flight.