New Swansea City manager Russell Martin has instigated new contract talks for Matt Grimes with the clubs hierarchy. There has been a halt to two deals for players whilst Julian Winter thrashes out the possibility of a three year deal for the swans captain. Swansea City are keen to go the extra mile to keep Russell Martin on board with the clubs new direction so we hope the talks go positively.
Martin indicated his intentions today when he told the media "With Grimesy, we want him to stay, we would like him to stay. He is our player, he is our captain and that won’t change,” said Martin. "He will be involved on Saturday and, I think behind the scenes, there have been conversations about how we can make that happen. "We have to wait and see on that, I am sure over the next couple of weeks I will keep being asked about this. But all I can tell you is we would like him to stay”. No-one is in any rush to make him leave the club so we will see how it pans out. But we want to retain our good players and he is certainly one of them. He is the ultimate pro, a brilliant captain in how he conducts himself and how he plays on the training pitch and on the pitch, and he loves it here. "I have had a few conversations with him about it. He is settled here with his partner, he loves the area, has been at the club a long time and he has a great relationship with the fans. He is aware of what he has got here, and that is important.”
Matt Grimes was rumoured to have discussed personal terms with Fulham three weeks ago, something which Fulham stated was held up when he was reportedly injured. Since then there has been little or no news on the state of play with Grimes other than all of a sudden he is back in favour at the club and playing for the swans.
We don’t expect the talks to reach any conclusion immediately but the fact the club are in talks with Grimes will please numerous supporters of the club. That aside we hear as well the Ethan Laird loan deal has been held up, as to why we are not sure but It’s possible the new found position for Joel Latibeaudiere at wing back, plus a potential deal for Grimes to stay could be factors. That doesn’t mean he won’t sign but he was expected at the Liberty on Tuesday at the latest after talks with Manchester United at the weekend. His non arrival is not injury related as he has played for Manchester United under 23 twice in the past six days.
The Grimes contract news is bound to give the whole squad a lift, especially now Flynn Downes is at the club from Ipswich. Here’s hoping Swansea City don’t have to sell Grimes at all, and indeed Jamal Lowe who is rumoured to be wanted by a number of clubs.