With Eom Ji-Sung in the grips of Swansea City despite his club Gwangju FC wanting him to stay on for a few days to say ‘goodbye to the fans’ the Swans must now clear their heads and focus.
One target has slipped out of their reach, Ronnie Edwards of Peterborough United signed officially for Southampton yesterday evening. Edwards, a centre back has been monitored by the Swans for well over a year, and it seems now the price of three million pounds was way above what Swansea wanted to pay. It’s a shame because over that period of time there have been opportunities. We must remember that Posh owner, Darragh MacAnthony is an astute and straight forward businessman. Not difficult to deal with but his price bracket for a player is generally what he gets.
We have been told that any move for Notts County’s Macaulay Langstaff, the much talked about ‘top target’ of Swans head coach, Luke Williams will have to happen pretty soon due to Millwall’s interest. However, not only that we still maintain it’s almost certain there will be other clubs interested, it surely is a matter of time. So, that’s one player the Swans will have to either remove from their required list, or officially move for him and get it out in to the open.
What is certain now, a striker is required, and one who can score goals. The Swans were involved in interest with twenty two year old Ghanaian, Mohammed Fuseini, however he joined Union Saint-Gilloise officially yesterday, more of a winger but he scored goals for Sturm Graz and Randers. Irishman and Republic of Ireland international, twenty four year old Aaron Connolly is looking for a club now Hull City have released him. Not the out and out striker Swans fans would like, but he will be available and ready to go. The signing of Eom was left-field, so we can only hope there’s more to come from the stats driven searches the Swans have done to date. And now of course Jamal Lowe has joined Sheffield Wednesday. He’s out of bounds.
Talking of goals, well, at least stopping them there just has to be a goalkeeper with stats to match. Numerous Championship clubs have already snapped up several keepers. The Swans haven’t really been linked with anyone of substance, and with their head goalkeeping coach still at the Euros with England, that needs to change.
The Swans have freed up another seventeen thousand pounds or so a week in salaries with the loan transfer of Jerry Yates to Derby County and Nathan Wood on a permanent to Southampton. That will become official later today we think. So more money is there for the right players. Plus cash in for Nathan ( the figures suggested aren’t matching up but it is at least three million pounds) Then there is the four hundred thousand pounds in settlement over the year long dispute for compensation from the Saints regards Russell Martin and his coaching staff. Both clubs settling for a total of 1.6 million or so, 1.2 million has already been paid. There could be more money incoming with Flynn Downes potentially moving from West Ham and Morgan Whittaker, albeit quiet for now they both have sell on clauses. You would hope if Langstaff is on the radar still there’s cash enough to strike a deal ?
Luke Williams has a couple of weeks before the training camp in Austria and surely he will want as many of the clubs targets in so he can work with them leading up to the season starting five weeks tomorrow. Yes, it’s getting closer.
The news is dry after the efforts made by the club to get in Eom Ji-Sung, but you can be rest assured that will change again this week.