Welcome to our contractual breakdown of players awaiting new terms or information on where their future may lay.

With Nathanael Ogbeta on Peterborough United’s radar this morning and the recalls of three players from their stints at Port Vale, Stockport County and Orient the Swans will have pressure on regards contract renewals. And there’s a few concerns.

Liam Cullen will be one, although reportedly contracted to June 2024, there is an option for an extension of one year. (source confirmed) That could wait until this summer of course, but without any new terms yet to be agreed he surely must feel his future needs sorting ? Cullen is on money a lot of League One players would balk at as well. How his contract is configured nobody but a few people are privileged to know that information. You would hope the Swans have a clause in there for first dibs at least, If not to retain him but to sell for a favourable sum.

The list of course is not exhaustive.

Liam Walsh earns twice as much as Liam Cullen. He was signed on a free transfer two and a half years ago, he has six months to run. To our knowledge there is no agreed option to extend. Walsh has been plagued by injuries, and again is currently unavailable. He is in the mid twenties for appearances for the Swans since signing. That’s pretty bad. He is an exquisite footballer but he too requires his future sorting out, or he goes on a free in the summer ? Possibly that is what the Swans want ?

Nathan Wood signed nearly two years ago on a two year deal, the player we hear is reluctant to sign new terms having come back from a lengthy injury. However he does have an option to extend by a year, as does the club. We sense another Jamie Paterson issue here, a decent player who could be forced in to an extension (contract dependent) against his wishes. We assume the Swans hierarchy as they are today are fully aware of the Paterson debacle. That turned in to one of the more ridiculous situations in this administrations part ownership.

But all Swansea followers will want this sorted.

Joe Allen signed on a two year deal in 2022, the signing was very much a welcome one with concerns over his injury record, however his previous season at Stoke included forty squad inclusions with thirty eight starts. From what we can find out he has no extension, so in reality he could arrange a new club now. Since signing Joe has had a miserable time of it for the Swans on the injury front. He hasn’t been included in the starting eleven this season, although he has made seven appearances. Value for money ? No. He is thirty four in March, and due to his track record you would think he will be released come June. His salary is way higher than most, speculations of eighty thousand a month could be an unconfirmed ball park figure despite information when he returned to the Swans it was half that. Either way a grand a week is too much for a player with Joe’s stats, same as Liam Walsh.

Jamie Paterson concludes his contract in the summer. As yet he has not agreed any new terms. Of all the players in this list he is one who genuinely should have primary consideration. He is fit and playing out if his skin at the moment, much the same as he did before the contract wrangle two years ago. At just thirty two we know representations have been made to sort something out, otherwise as per numerous players at Swansea he can sort a new club this month.

Yannick Bolasie concludes his deal in two weeks time. It could be the Swans don’t offer fresh terms. The early promise was there of course, his salary is reportedly high but unconfirmed. He is also yet to bag a goal for the Swans. We believe the club will look at his weekly wage and either try and reduce it dramatically or look elsewhere and use his salary for one of the wide men men linked this month.

The last player of some concern is Jamal Lowe, he’s worth signing we know that much, his contribution has been excellent ‘overall’ The belief is he will stay at Swansea for the remainder of the season. But that’s not confirmed. If that’s the case then the Swans should surely bid now or alternatively lay some terms in front of him ? It’s entirely appropriate to do so. He is thirty in July but only really started a true professional career consistently six years ago. That’s very similar to Lee Trundle who believes his late start and then application to learn kept him going professionally deep in to his thirties. Lowe offers more than goals, his running, commitment and assists have been a real positive this season. Any club who looks at Lowe would be impressed enough to sign him. Of course there are clubs out there who will offer a bigger salary,that is if he takes his Bournemouth contract to the wire. He gets a signing on fee at that point that could make him for his final years in the game.

This of course doesn’t include Charlie Patino, Harrison Ashby, Carl Rushworth, Bashir Humphreys or Jamal Lowe, that’s the magic figure of five. This month will also see the extent of these players future at Swansea City. Anything at the moment is pure conjecture. However added to our contract renewal list that’s at least eleven players in the squad where work needs to be done. Nathanael Ogbeta too.

Our final comment on this does fall on Chairman Andrew Coleman. He knows exactly what funds are or could be available with sales. And on that point this is where we think new players will be sourced from. Or indeed Allen, Walsh and Bolasie not having new contracts. He worked miracles to get Luke Williams and his coaches to sign for the Swans. That’s beyond question. He’s had the plaudits for that. Even if he ties up these players or releases them that has to happen this month behind the scenes. We won’t find out the true extent this January but you would think talks are ongoing with these players as well ? We think this ‘project’ is truly dawning on him now. This is his first active transfer window with games ongoing around him, and injuries to boot. He knows more than anyone he has to do better than he did on the run up to Christmas. We don’t accept the statements made on appointing Michael Duff’s replacement. It’s word foolery at least. However, Coleman is at the front and centre of this month now, his funds are allocated and his remit is clear from across ‘the pond’ He too will feel the frustrations that other Chairmen have felt, especially last January. He won’t want his recruitment team feeling the same as the one of twelve months ago.

That all falls on him.

It’s as much now about his own status at the club as much as it is his future as Chairman. We are encouraged regards the inquiries made by Sporting Director, Paul Watson. They are as expected, no big signings this month, but the building has to be done. The two preferred targets need to be tied up, and as quickly as is possible.

People talk of rebuilding, but the extent is quite concerning.

Photograph Open Source

ReslovenSwan1 added 15:48 - Jan 16 Lowe's goal scoring record is actually pretty decent over his career and he is clearly happy at Swansea where he has had the best time of his career. Players will be offered deal and not accept the wages. Coleman can increase that in the knowledge that Allen and Walsh on big deal will free y up the wages. Parker will be a first teamer on a low deal. Ogbta would not trust Swansea's offerings . He has not had a kick in three years. Even now Parker and Darling are prefered.

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