Grimsby After Roberts

Oxford United and FA Cup semi-finalists Wycombe are also believed to be tracking the Wales Under-21 player whose contract runs out at the end of next month.

Swansea have said that talks about a new deal have been continuing and last Thursday declared that Roberts would make a decision about his future in the next 48 hours. But yesterday, after the time limit had passed without a decision, Roberts said:

“I am still thinking it over. I will decide in the next week or two.”

Under the Bosman ruling, Roberts can move on a free transfer once his contract with Swansea ends. But because he is under 24, the club can seek compensation if the player leaves.

Grimsby may be losing right winger Kevin Donovan to Barnsley in the summer and manager Lennie Lawrence may see Roberts as the ideal replacement for the 29-year-old who was signed from West Bromwich for £200,000 in 1997. If Roberts decides to move from the Vetch he could choose Oxford where he would join the revolution under new boss, former Liverpool and England defender Mark Wright.

But that would be a sideways step, so the youngster is more likely to sign for Wycombe where high-profile boss Lawrie Sanchez could take him under his wing.

Swansea manager John Hollins said he had heard nothing about the interest shown in the highly-rated Roberts.

“No club has been in contact with us because they don’t need to,” he said. “Stuart Roberts will be free to talk to anybody even though we have made an offer to him.”

Dean Saunders, Wales’s most-capped outfield player, has been released by Bradford City boss Jim Jefferies. The Swansea-born 36-year-old is now being linked with a move to First Division Sheffield United.