Rob Davies
The compensation for Russell Martin’s move to Southampton has still not been settled as we close in on December, five months after his departure from SA1.
That saga, which threatened to derail both club’s pre seasons plans, went on for weeks until the Swans finally agreed to release Martin pending a compensation package being agreed.
The big dispute surrounded the release clause in the manager’s contract which was significantly higher for a Premier League club rather than one in the second tier. Swansea’s owners argued the approach was made whilst Southamptom were in the top tier, of course.
It meant a differential in figures between the two clubs of around £1m; an argument that is seemingly still raging on after all this time. One wonders should Southampton not get promoted as they desperately need to, whether they’ll be paying Martin compensation before the Swans will even receive a penny?
But is a surprise that the issue has still not been sorted with funds for the January window desperately needed as the club eyes three or more additions to what is quickly becoming a threadbare squad lacking quality options.
The Swans are boosted by the arrival of Yannick Bolasie who joins on a short term deal until the end of January but there is a want for more widemen, maybe a striker and a strong central midfielders to compliment Matt Grimes.
