Some areas healthy enough but others need a big boost
WHEN Leroy Fer stated that January signings were not necessarily essential for Swansea City, his comments predictably attracted a fair bit of attention.
Most managers and players, when asked about a forthcoming transfer window, will usually in some fashion allude to the need to strengthen a squad.
And, with the Swans having dropped to 13th in the table, many supporters feel new faces in January are an absolute must.
But others feel that faith should be kept with the current group after an encouraging start to the season and a return to an attractive style of play.
The truth is probably, as ever, somewhere in the middle.
Graham Potter has spoken in recent weeks of an imbalance in the squad, that Swansea are overstocked in some areas and short of options in others.
Here, we assess the breakdown of the playing staff and whether new faces are needed.
GOALKEEPERS
The debate over whether Erwin Mulder or Kristoffer Nordfeldt should be Potter’s number one has been one of the talking points of the season to date.
Both enjoyed good starts but have made notable errors in recent weeks that have ensured things are not so clear cut, although, as our columnist Guto Llewelyn recently pointed out, they are also facing the task of following in the glovework of a certain Lukasz Fabanski.
With those two in situ, and highlyrated youngster Steven Benda also on the books, this is one area where Swansea look to be in decent enough shape despite events of the last two weeks.
When on form they have two solid and reliable keepers at their disposal.
DEFENDERS
The alarm bells were ringing in SA1 when Swansea ended the summer window having sold Alfie Mawson, Federico Fernandez, Jordi Amat and Kyle Bartley.
It left Mike van der Hoorn as the only senior centre-back, but the manner in which Joe Rodon has so impressively adapted to life at first-team level has helped Swansea enjoy one of the best defensive records in the second tier.
The Dutchman and the Llangyfelach product have had very good seasons to this point, and Cameron Carter-vickers’s arrival on loan from Tottenham has provided some backup, while Cian Harries has also featured this season.
But it would not take much in the way of injury misfortune to set Swansea back in this department and they have been linked with Sunderland’s Tom Flanagan (see story on page 58). It would certainly be prudent to bring in an addition in this position if possible.
It should also be noted that the prospect of Carter-vickers returning to Tottenham cannot be completely ruled out.
Spurs would surely have wanted him to play more often than he has, even if it is normally the case that the two clubs involved have to agree to end a loan spell early.
Swansea are pretty well set at fullback. They have Kyle Naughton and Connor Roberts as solid options on the right-hand side, while Martin Olsson, Matt Grimes and Declan John are considerations for the other flank.
It’s hard to see any incomings there unless someone were to leave.
MIDFIELDERS
This is a position where injuries have hit Swansea hard.
Leroy Fer, Jay Fulton and Tom Carroll have been hit by problems at various stages of the campaign and the Swans went through a stage where Naughton played alongside Grimes for a sequence of games.
Naughton performed more than capably in an unfamiliar role but has not proved so effective in the middle of the park recently, and with Carroll having been sidelined for a number of weeks this again looks an area where bringing in reinforcements would make sense.
A couple of injury problems has been enough to leave Swansea short of options and exhibiting a lack of balance in the middle of the park.
All four midfielders have had their moments, particularly Fulton and Grimes, but no pairing has really made those roles their own and settled as a combination.
WINGERS
When we talk about Swansea being overstocked, the wide positions are exhibit A.
On the Liberty books are Daniel James, Jefferson Montero, Barrie Mckay, Joel Asoro, Nathan Dyer, Wayne Routledge and Luciano Narsingh.
And Roberts, Bersant Celina, Oli Mcburnie, Yan Dhanda and George Byers have all spent some time on the flanks so far this term.
Swansea will not be bringing in more options here unless a number of players were to leave.
It is no secret they are keen to offload the wages of long-term servants Dyer and Routledge, as well as Dutch international Narsingh, and Potter himself said he would not stand in the way of the trio leaving if they received an offer.
They have made just three league starts between them and the writing appears to be on the wall for them.
Even with the news of James’s injury, you would not be rushing to a bookmaker to put any money on any of the fringe trio featuring at Brentford.
Outgoings, rather than incomings, are likely to be the name of the game here.
STRIKERS
Perhaps up front, above all other positions, is the area where Swansea City simply must make at least one signing.
Oli Mcburnie has performed manfully in his first full season as the Swans main man, scoring eight goals and getting through a mountain of work, but he needs some help to allow his workload to be managed more effectively.
He is one of just three players to feature in every league game and it is not easy for Swansea to rest him given he is their top scorer and the other options are sparse.
Courtney Baker-richardson has experienced highs and lows in his first-team outings but does not look to be seen as a genuine alternative to the Scotland international.
Wilfried Bony has recently returned from nine months out with a serious knee injury and is understandably taking time to find fitness and form.
It is unsurprising that he has been off the pace and heavy of touch in his three outings since returning.
Fit and in form he would be a more than welcome option, but he needs time and there is also the complication of his status as Swansea’s top earner.
His salary is seen as unsustainable in the Championship and, given he is out of contract in the summer, Swansea would like to find a way of getting something for him or offloading his wages before they lose him for nothing come the end of the campaign.
Whether he goes or not, Swansea need another striker, and they have been heavily linked with Ayr United’s Lawrence Shankland, who has been in prolific form in the Scottish Championship.