Izzy made his debut for the Swans back in August after signing a three month deal and has impressed more in a playing capacity the more he has played. The Swans defence has tightened up more and more as the season has progressed and much of this can be pit down to the calmness on the ball of the defender who arrived from West Ham.
Maybe it is somewhat puzzling that the defender has not yet signed a new deal when you consider that Andy Robinson also arrived on a three month deal but was secured on a longer package some time ago and only last week leading scorer Lee Trundle pledged his future to the club until 2005 at least.
I would hazard a guess that the club must have held some discussions with the player and just hope that terms of the deal are not a stumbling block. With the recent retirement of Jason Smith, the presence of Izzy is a must at the moment at the centre of defence even after the recent arrival, on a one month loan, of Alan Tate from Manchester United.
However, as with some things you get a nagging feeling at the back of your mind that maybe this deal is not proving to be as simple as some of the others ready to commit their future to the club. The defender told the Post, ”We are just talking at the moment but I am enjoying myself down here and I would love to stay,’ It just depends on how those talks go, but I would like to sort it out sooner rather than later.” which doesn’t really give much indication on the hopes of getting him signed.
Brian Flynn was equally adamant that he would like to see the player’s future at the Vetch: ”He is getting better all the time,” he said, ”but that’s what playing league football does for you.He’s at the sharp end now and he is proving all time he can do it. ‘Izzy is strong in the air, has pace and is confident on the ball. He has been playing his part in what we have done so far this season. ‘We would like him to stay.”
I am sure that most fans at this moment would echo the sentiments of the manager and hope that the club can secure a deal until the end of the season for Izzy to remain at the Vetch.
Meanwhile, speculation increases that Cardiff midfielder Leyton Maxwell could be making the short trip down the M4 to Swansea. Brian Flynn has stated that he enquired about Maxwell when Martinez was injured and has also been asked to be kept informed of any interest in the player although the club have so far made no comment that they have made a move for the former Liverpool man. Cardiff City have also made no comment suggesting that this could be no more than a rumour designed to generate some interest in a player who seems set to be released from his existing contract?
