ยทยท

Two weeks to go โ€“ who is coming in? โ€“ transfer window latest

Tuesday, 18 January 2022, 7:42
3 mins read

It is fair to say that we are only halfway through the transfer window and already we have seen more twists and turns than we anticipated in the whole window and it is normally the second half of the window that provides most of the entertainment.

We have seen Andy Fisher and Cyrus Christie join the club โ€“ the latter on loan โ€“ whilst we have seen loan exits for Morgan Whittaker and Liam Cullen to Lincoln and yesterday a permanent transfer of Jake Bidwell to Coventry City.

Sundayโ€™s news of course was of the contract โ€œdisputeโ€ or should we say the contract that was or maybe wasnโ€™t involving Jamie Paterson and there are not many people out there currently not believing that Pato has played his last game for Swansea City.  But, as of yet, despite speculation there have been no offers for our second leading scorer.

On Saturday we had Russell Martin clearly frustrated that he had hit a stumbling block on one of his transfer targets on Friday โ€“ a player rumoured in more than one place to be Harry Darling โ€“ โ€œWe thought we were really close and then at the last minute it was off,โ€ said Martin after the weekend draw with Huddersfield.

There are plenty of players linked โ€“ James Mcatee for one from Manchester City, Matt Oโ€™Riley can be added to the list alongside Darling from MK Dons, Ross Stewart at Sunderland.  Haydon Roberts, Tommy Doyle and Craig Halkett are others and that is before we get into any thoughts about the players that we sign who are never really linked in advance.  Cyrus Christie being a classic example here.

The boss himself is clear in what he wants from the window and has called for his plan to be backed by the owners so you wonder slightly where the breakdown is โ€“ has the boss asked for a bigger budget, have the owners reduced the budget or is there just a general reluctance to invest currently in the players we want and there is hope that the fees go down later in the window?   Itโ€™s a guessing game thatโ€™s for sure.

โ€œI think what we have is a really clear strategy of what we want to do, long-term. Weโ€™re not asking for the world in January,โ€ added Martin on Saturday.

โ€œWeโ€™re really clear in what we want and how we want to do it.

โ€œItโ€™s just hopefully about getting enough support to be able to do that, like we did with Flynn Downes, like in the summer just before we can with Joel Piroe, who is now a huge asset to the club.

โ€œHopefully we get the support we need and we can really add to it, because the people who have come into it already, Olivier Ntcham, Jamie Paterson, Flynn, Joel Piroe, Ethan Laird before he got called back, have been some of our top performers.โ€

Was the decision to let Jake Bidwell go the right one?

  • No (68%, 81 Votes)
  • Yes (33%, 39 Votes)

Total Voters: 120

Loading ... Loading ...

What we do know is that we need replacements.   For all Latibeaudiere had a good game Saturday we need a replacement for Bidwell, you cannot help feel that we need an addition in midfield and we do need a reinforcement up front.   Dependent on the final position with Rhys Williams then we probably could do with adding a central defender to the cause as well but if Liverpool elect not to call him back (and there is still a chance they may do this) then we may decide to run with what we have.   Again, the guessing game goes on.

Nobody can guarantee what the next couple of weeks will bring.  Least of all even Russell Martin or Julian Winter.   There are deals out there to be done but it is evident we have a budget and we need to use it wisely.   In relative terms (to Swansea City certainly) we spent well in the summer but we also spent a sizeable amount of what would have been our annual budget.   We did that because we needed to.  The loans against future installments of the Joe Rodon money will help this January but it would be a gamble to spend it all especially as some will be used to balance the running costs of the club in general.

The one thing that is certain is that there are more twists and turns to come.   We will probably sign someone who is not mentioned in this article, someone not previously linked โ€“ we do that quite well at times.   And we will end the window with more squad options than we have this morning.

Interesting times ahead.

Do you want the latest news from JackArmy.net direct to your phone? Then subscribe to our Telegram channel here
Images courtesy of Getty Images, Athena Picture Agency and Swansea City Football Club.

Phil Sumbler

Been watching the Swans since the very late 1970s and running the Planet Swans website (in all its current and previous guises since the summer of 2001 As it stood JackArmy.net was right at the forefront of some of the activity against Tony Petty back in 2001, breaking many of the stories of the day as fans stood against the actions where the local media failed. Was involved with the Swans Supporters Trust from 2005, for the large part as Chairman before standing down in the summer of 2020.

League Table

Next Up

Forum Latest

Threads: 20,411

Messages: 278,437

Members: 4,711

Latest member: Cyntmitch

Next Up

League Table

Last 6 Results

Latest from Blog

Swans TV: Goal of the Month | December 2024-25

. . . For more information, as well as all the latest Swansea City AFC news, log onto the club's official website at http://www.swanseacity.com Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/SWANSPLAYER Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SwanseaCityFC Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/swansofficial Follow us on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/swansofficial Swansea City Association Football Club is aโ€ฆ

Swansea City: Will Swans match Wycombe demands for Low?

The name of Joe Low is attracting much interest already this January and we are only just over five days into the month.   We know the Swans have made a bid and are expected to put another one on the table whilst it was reported yesterday evening that Plymouth Argyleโ€ฆ

Swans TV: Joe Allen on West Bromwich Albion | Reaction

. . . Joe Allen talks to SwansTV following yesterdays 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion at the Swansea.com stadium. For more information, as well as all the latest Swansea City AFC news, log onto the club's official website at http://www.swanseacity.com Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/SWANSPLAYER Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SwanseaCityFCโ€ฆ

Birmingham and Bristol City showing Darling interest?

Birmingham City and Bristol City are both being credited with having interest in Swans defender Harry Darling after the Swans admitted that contract talks with the defender were likely being shelved until the end of the season. The Swans had been hoping to tie up a contract for Darling inโ€ฆ

Don't Miss

Personal relationship with Martin sealed Woodโ€™s Saints move

Nathan Wood completed his Southampton move yesterday and immediately showed

Swansea City compensation battle with Southampton continues as claims emerge

The Swans battle for what they believe they are entitled