Michael Reeves
Russell Martin admitted earlier this week that he is keen to keep four players at the club this season, three of them out of contract and one of them set to return to Wolves after a successful loan spell.
Ryan Manning, Joel Latibeaudiere and Kyle Naughton are all out of contract at the end of this season and tomorrow signifies the end of a loan spell for Luke Cundle who has spent the season in SA1 on loan from Wolves.
Speaking on Friday, Martin admitted that he was keen to see them all stay at the club and there has been an increasing belief as the season goes on that they can do a deal to retain at least two of them if not all three.
Manning has looked set to be on his way for a few months now but it has been suggested in more than one quarter that the Swans excellent run of form at the end of the season could open the door for him to extend his time here by at least one more year whilst Latibeaudiere is also suggested to be open to an extended deal could terms be agreed with him.
Naughton is another one who Martin admits that he wants to keep hold of and he isn’t reported to be in a hurry to move away from the area and although he has not been a regular starter he still plays an important role in the squad and also his Premier League experience is believed to assist the younger players.
With changes behind the scenes at the club confirmed over the past couple of weeks there is still the chance to agree terms with all players something that has never been given up on at the club despite some of the things that have been said in public.
“I can’t give you any clarity,” Martin said earlier in the week when asked about the contract deals for the players.
“I’d love to keep all three (Manning, Latibeaudiere and Naughton), but we’re not at that point at the moment.
“I hope with everything going on we can get some clarity and get to that point. I’ll be really sad to lose one of them, let alone all of them.”
Cundle’s position is different as he is under contract at Wolves but Martin is clear that he would like to see the player return and the player is also keen on that particular outcome.
“I’d love to come back to Swansea,” he said. “It’s been great for me, not just developing on the pitch but off the pitch as well, in a different changing-room environment.”
Wolves are open to another loan spell for Cundle away from the club and given the success of his time in SA1 then the Swansea.com stadium seems the most natural of homes for another season’s worth of football.
We watch on with interest.
I suspect Manning already has his next club set up.
Cundle might come on a loan to buy basis but might think a different challenge would offer a better chance of progressing to the Wolves team. Could go either way.
Naughton could gain an additional year for his experience on and off the pitch. That would depend on whether or not we sign another senior player.
Latibeaudiere, who knows. I’m not a fan but he is starting to show a little maturity.
Much depends on who we can bring in.
I would be more concerned about losing Piroe, Whittaker and Cabango.
Agree with Jeff33 ,Manning is a real star but i do think Martin should look at the players playing in the Under 21s.He ignores two fullbacks Susesha and Ogbeta,a gifted Cabango lookalike Bailiki who loves going forward,( already a Scottish U21 player)and several others who are talented players Brandon Cooper cannot go out on loan for a fourth year!!!!! and where does Kyle Joseph fit in with Martin’s strategy???
Two potent goalscorers in Iwan Morgan and Josh Thomas.Iwan is young but Man Utd blood 16 year olds straight into the first team if they are talented and Iwan is very talented!!!!!!
Naughton is a skilled player who must have a good effect on mentoring young players and is a very useful sub and a good guy to have with so many young players
Summing up I feel that Martin ignores talented players already on Swansea’s books who should be given a chance,not players who have no inbred loyalty to the the club. We need players like Ollie Cooper who will sweat blood for the good of the club ,and not mercenary players who disrupt the team ambience such as Obafemi
Manning agreed Watford ??