Phil SumblerThe Swans are ready to do business with both Ipswich Town and Manchester United this week as they will be welcoming both Flynn Downes and Ethan Laird to the Liberty Stadium this week.
Downes will have a medical at the Swans early this week to complete a move to the Liberty and should be with the squad and in a position to make his debut at the Liberty next Saturday against Sheffield United.
The versatile midfielder became the club’s youngest-ever captain when he led his side out for an FA Cup tie against Coventry in 2019.
He submitted a transfer request last September after Ipswich turned down bids from Premier League outfit Crystal Palace.
Laird meanwhile is another expected to arrive ahead of our next league fixture. He will complete a season long loan deal and join back up with Russell Martin after he played under the new Swans head coach at MK Dons last season.
Martin was keen to conclude new deals almost as soon as he took charge at the Liberty last week and has already bought in Jamie Paterson who repaid that move with a goal in the 2-1 defeat at Blackburn on Saturday/
“Matt Gill has worked with him before. Luke Williams had him at Bristol City so it was a really simple one for us,” said Martin when asked about the capture of Paterson.
“Once we called him and asked if he fancied coming to play and explained what we’re trying to do, he just jumped at the opportunity.
“I can’t come out here and promise it because football changes very quickly and things happen that you can’t legislate for.
“We need some more guys in the building to help the ones we’ve already got. I think the guys already in the dressing room deserve a lot of credit for what they’ve done over the last year or two and the way they’ve attacked pre-season amidst all of the uncertainty that’s been going on.
“They do need a hand because we’re a bit light, especially in certain positions.”
Downes and Laird will both add to that squad but there will be at least two more arrivals on top of that before the season starts as Martin looks to shape a squad that he believes will be competitive in the Championship this season.
