Several pieces of information on Swansea City’s pursuit of players has been divulged to the website after our regular Sunday meeting of minds this morning. Representatives from outside of the club who look after a variety of players who support this websites cause tell us the Swans have been extremely busy this summer.
Much of the clubs business, as it does with many sides has fallen through or been difficult to progress.
First off it’s time to revisit what is considered ‘contact’ in football terms. If we look at Everton and their interest in Joel Piroe as an example nothing beyond an informal chat has occurred. However, there is news on this which could be described as a ‘development’ once we firm up what we have. Whether it’s a tentative inquiry, an informal chat with the club, agents swapping approaches and playing their usual game of chess or representatives generating interest it’s a hard game to analyse.
And then there’s the lists clubs and agents are forever being generating at this time of the year. Of course we shouldn’t forget the term intermediary - an entity which has become more involved in transfers in recent times. The definition of this type of person is : An intermediary is a person who acts as a link between people to try and bring about an agreement. An intermediary's sole purpose is to relay messages that they have received between the contracting parties. Whereas an agent has the authority to enter into binding agreements
There are thousands of FA registered intermediaries.
We have been told that the Swans have been working tirelessly to negotiate with players to bring them to the club. Paul Watson has rarely been off the phone and players like Ji Soo-Kim and Hibs youngster Ethan Laidlaw will have been made known to Watson, the latter of interest to the Swans. Both eventually signed on at Brentford, Laidlaw possibly more of a B’ player and a possible loan once he settles in at his new club.
Mykola Kukharevych
An interesting link for this player. He is twenty two but has had limited opportunities in the last two years. Yes, he has had an injury but only featured fifteen times for Hibernian last season scoring five goals. His current club have circulated him over recent times, and Hibs do believe they still have an outside chance of his signature on loan ( as of last Friday ) The Swans inquiry regards this young player is positive. The details are loan to buy as we understand it, however his current club, Troyes in France are looking to sell him outright, we will find out tomorrow or Wednesday we are told if this will be furthered.
Kristian Pedersen
Should be signing on at Swansea City after completing his medical late tomorrow morning. Pedersen is already in Swansea. He has had a recent injury history which will need to be overcome in tomorrows medical. The current FC Köln player is a ready made left back and if successful in his processes tomorrow will be an automatic choice for Swans manager Michael Duff. When Duff stated last week that medicals can scupper deals he most certainly had Pedersen in mind.
Harrison Ashby
Most certainly will go down as the transfer of the summer for the Swans if as we understand he completes his move this week. He will be on loan but a better player with his pace and flair will be hard for any club to find with the season starting this Saturday. He has been with his parent club Newcastle United over the last ten days. He started in Fridays game against Brighton at right back which the Geordies won 2-1. Ashby was a target of the Swans last summer when Flynn Downes moved to West Ham, but he was already in discussions with several clubs for a permanent move, this eventually transpired in January when he moved to Newcastle United.
Carl Rushworth
Carl has also been in the states with his parent club Brighton. He featured on the bench against Newcastle but didn’t get any minutes. He is also expected to go through a medical tomorrow with Pedersen. He is an England U21 goalkeeper who is expected to feature as the Swans number one as the season progresses.
The search for new players to feature this season for Swansea has at times been difficult. It won’t surprise people to learn that the Swans are recognised as somewhat difficult to deal with at times. In some cases it’s to the benefit of the club, and the Swans bank balance is always the primary concern. That’s acceptable as far as I am concerned but opinion elsewhere on this site will oppose this view. However,thats football, and opinions are always varied and differing on many subjects.
There’s nothing new really on the horizon not already known, except of course the striker who is European based who continues to gain interest amongst those championship clubs with ambition this season.