Olivier Ntcham who joined Swansea City from Celtic two years ago will be another Swans player to engage with the new Chairman Andrew Coleman this week, however his contract will present some problems. Ntcham joined the Swans when Mark Allen ‘ head of football recruitment’ ( if you like ) was at the club.
Ntcham, capped by France at age-grade level up to the under-21s, was snapped up by Manchester City’s academy — where then Swans’ sporting director Mark Allen was director at the time - from Le Havre in 2012. His travels have been interesting since then, and now he represents Cameroon.
Ntcham’s contract is believed to be the biggest outlay Swansea have for one individual player, and that’s where the twenty seven year old will have to expect no increase in his terms. In fact he will be extremely lucky to reach the figure he is on at the moment. With the player able to leave the club in June 2024 the Swans really do need to review numerous contracts, and not just the obvious.
The Cameron international has proven to be a real positive for Swansea since his return from the World Cup in December and by Martin’s own admission he has been playing him away from a more central role. What any he has also displayed is his desire to actually take ownership of situations which wasn’t so evident during his first season at Swansea.
Ntcham also pitches in with goals as we saw on Monday in the 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion.
Russell Martin will of course be delighted if he pens a new deal but a hungry Olivier Ntcham is one we want to see. Initially talks with his agent Mamadi Fofana took place earlier on in the season remotely, and it’s now agreed this week or early next week could be crucial for Ntcham’s Swansea future.