Phil Sumbler
These are difficult times for Russell Martin at Swansea City with a host of potential exits set to dominate a January transfer window where strengthening is essential but that could end up a luxury that we are not able to afford.
Ryan Manning, Michael Obafemi, Joel Latibeadiere and Olivier Ntcham are all names who could well leave the Swans during the course of the window with two rumoured to be ready to listen to offers from elsewhere and two not having signed the contracts that have been put in front of them.
The Swans boss has been trying to tie down new deals for Manning and Latibeaudiere but both are stalling on the signing and Martin has pretty much admitted that the club have reached the end of the line in terms of their negotiations on the extended contracts.
“Ryan’s agent is saying it’s unlikely we are going to sign the current deal he’s been offered and I’m not convinced we as a club can go any further,” he said on the deal for Manning. It’s a similar situation for Latibeaudiere with the boss adding “We’ve offered probably our last offer in terms of where we are as a club,” although he did add that the deal has not been turned down it was just “taking a bit longer to consider.”
The loss of his two first choice wing backs so far this season will leave a hole in the set up post the window hence the constant links with potential new players. However, with both players out of contract in the summer, the Swans will need to make decisions in January whether to cash in on what is left on their contracts or risk losing out in the summer when they move on out of contract.
Also speculated to be leaving in January is Obafemi. Not seen in a Swansea shirt since before the World Cup he was supposed to have returned from international action with an injury but its also been suggested in several places that he does not want to play for the club again and wants his move away from SA1.
That move could – and probably should in hindsight – have happened back in August when Burnley were showing an interest and it now appears that he will get his wish in January although where too is open to further speculation given that Turf Moor probably isn’t the option that it was back in the summer.
Obafemi has seemingly wanted out from the club almost since he arrived and the words of warning when he did arrive here maybe should have sounded louder at the time but hindsight would be a wonderful gift in so many places let alone in the brain of a football manager.
Everything does point to the Swans giving him his wish in January of an exit but where to and for how much money remains open to discussion.
And then we come to Ntcham. The Cameroon international is a player who undoubtedly has a talent that could benefit us. However it is also a talent that suggests he should be playing at a level higher than the one that we currently occupy. You therefore have to ask the question first and foremost as to why he isn’t and part of that answer does come from the fact that he is frustratingly inconsistent and not always capable of putting in a performance over ninety minutes.
Ntcham has made almost as many (28) substitute appearances in the league as he has starts (30) since his arrival at the club from Celtic and that tells a story. His appearance in the World Cup will certainly have got his appetite stronger for more time on a bigger stage but the reality is it is difficult to see where those opportunities may come.
A Premier League move seems exceptionally unlikely which may mean that moves have to come from overseas if he is to depart Swansea in this window which is something he appears to be open to as a possibility.
With up to four potential exits from the club coming up in the next month then movement on this front will be key to do early to help shape the month. Given the part that all for have played in our squad this season all will require replacing and will most certainly change the way that we approach the window.
Russell Martin will have had some clear plans ahead of the January window but these may need to change and quickly depending on the outgoings.
January is going to be a massive month in so many ways.
Nothing new here .This is the way our owners work .No-one comes in until they are pretty sure someone is leaving .Think back to the Joe Rodon fiasco.The financial well being of the owners comes first ,the development of the team a distant second .Treading water and avoiding disaster seems to be the height of their ambitions
Well this is what you get by being owned by them Americans keeping thyere money in thyer pockets they age no intention of investing any new money into the club unless we sell players to fund it and some of the players we have are not up to Championship standered so let them go another thing RM must stop criticizing the players he is the manager and picks the players and the buck stops with him and if he is not up to the job then go the Norwich club are looking for a new manager.
To much dead wood living on past reputations if they started to perform at kick off instead of after 60 minutes and played up the park instead of across it (they are to slow in thinking and moving to do this) we might score a goal
Bring back the lad from Plymouth, a young player who can punch higher than championship and can help his parent club aviod the drop.