Rob Davies
So it’s the 20th of January and no fresh faces at Swansea City with only a few loans out the door so far – what is the state of play on both transfers in and out?
It’s undoubtedly been a frustrating time for boss Russell Martin who said the club were close to making a signing in the first week of the transfer window before backtracking as it became apparent the selling club wanted more money.
But with just a week and a half to go before the window shuts until the summer where do some of the players expected to go (and come in) sit?
Rumoured out:
Michael Obafemi
Not been seen since the 0-0 draw at Huddersfield at the start of November, the Irish striker seems a little in limbo with Burnley’s latest £3m bid rejected.
With no sign of a return to first team duties one would suspect if Burnley maintain their interest in the player then he should depart for Turf Moor (or another Championship club with reasonable sums of cash) by the end of January.
Nobody – and i’m sure Obafemi himself – wants this dragging on and the club will not want an asset of his value playing no part for the rest of the season.
“We’ve knocked two bids back for Michael,” said Martin.
“There are players that will want to move on, but it has to be right for the club. We’re not forced to sell anyone on the cheap.
Jamie Paterson
it was generally assumed that Paterson was on his way to Coventry last week for a figure in the region of £250k; a figure I’m sure Swansea would have been satisfied with and it gets another player off the payroll.
But it soon materialised that the Sky Blues didn’t hold an interest in the player and no move was on the cards according to Coventry Live.
And to add more confusion to the matter Paterson has been very clear in posting photos on his Instagram account wearing his Swansea training kit which perhaps suggests he has returned to the fold and could play some part.
I guess we will find out tomorrow at Loftus Road for what could be Paterson’s second return (after his first absence during his contract dispute last season of course).
Ryan Manning & Joel Latibeaudiere
Despite failing to agree terms on new deals both players are still key players in the team and that doesn’t look to be changing any time soon.
Perhaps things might change if bids came in towards the end of the window but you don’t get the sense that either are set to depart in Janusry and the hope will be that their financial demands reduce as the season goes on.
Losing Manning in particular on a free would be a blow but perhaps the Swans hierarchy feel that there’s an opportunity to agree something over the coming months?
Morgan Whittaker
Where do you start with Whittaker? It was clear to anyone with common sense that he was brought back to be sold after activating the return clause within the first week of the window opening.
Because why on earth would Russell Martin want or need an attacker who has been involved in 16 goals in the division below when he has so many options available to him? Sorry, sarcasm.
It’s a baffling situation that this morning got even more confusing as Martin confirmed he is to be involved in the squad at QPR tomorrow. But being in the squad and playing are two different things.
“Morgan is in the squad tomorrow,” he confirmed.
“We’ve had bids for him and we’ve rejected them, so I think we need to draw a line under it, and Morgan is in agreement with that.
“He’ll be in the squad tomorrow.”
Swans fans largely want him involved – I certainly do – but until a deal is off the table he can’t play. All eyes on Loftus Road tomorrow.
Rumoured in:
Chiedoze Ogbene
Perhaps the Swans have given up on Ogbene for now with Rotherham clearly wanting a substantial figure despite his contract running out in the summer.
Rumours of a move to Middlesbrough were just that and it’s thought that the Irish international favours a move to South Wales despite the Millers digging their heels in.
Would be nice to get it done but nobody should get their hopes up that the two clubs can agree something this month. Perhaps more likely on a free in the summer?
Joe Gelhardt
Martin was definitely an admirer of Leeds striker Gelhardt but despite a number of clubs showing interest in the striker he looks set to seal a return to Wigan Athletic.
The club is close to his home in the Merseyside and is where it all began for the England U20 International after all.
Summary
The Swans boss is clearly getting frustrated with the same questions around transfer business but with tomorrow’s trip to Loftus Road the last game before the window shuts it should give him and the club time to sort all of the above out.
With Brandon Cooper and Nat Ogbeta already out after agreeing loan deals and returns to parent clubs for Oko-Flex and Fin Stevens the team is in desperate need of strengthening. With money at a premium time will tell whether Martin gets what he wants both in and out.
Expect a bid of just under 2m for Whitaker later today which will be accepted. I’m amazed that fans aren’t voicing their anger that we may not get the chance to see him play in Swansea colours.
Let’s be honest every player at my team Swansea got a price tag if the owners had there way would sell them and we would use 23 squad
I find it remarkable that we are desperately trying to get a right-sided player worth, reputedly, £1million, when we have an in-form right-sided player, worth £2 million already in our squad! What is going on? We are obviously weakening our squad or simply going for cheaper options. Is that ambition? Why not keep and play Whittaker?