Matt Grimes, the Swans captain who takes his responsibilities off the pitch as much as on it has been recently linked to a Sheffield United move this summer. Despite the reporting on many websites and social media accounts that’s just not on the cards this summer.

As it stands Matt Grimes is very much a homeboy, and he has found a home in Swansea. For the past nine years club captain Grimes has displayed a determination to improve, develop and lead Swansea City. For a manager he must be a dream player to work with and rely upon in the dressing room, and on the pitch. Some mention his lack of leadership skills on a match day, but the evidence to say either way isn’t there.

He has never been criticised by any manager, has had no disciplinary issues externally and is the focus of the squad off the pitch. With his fiancé, Angela he runs a what’s app group to welcome and bring all new players with families, married or with partners in to the Swansea City fold. And it’s family first for Grimes, make no mistake about that. Angela has friends and family links in the west Wales area and both she and Matt are extremely happy living in the area. And then of course there’s a Matt and Angela plus three to think about. They have twins on the way, and one child, Myla already a local Swansea girl.

They both have a young daughter, Myla, and a family approach to what they do. In fact it’s Angela’s grandparents, Alwyn and Anne passing away over the past few years that has affected Grimes personally. "I spent a fair bit of time with them. But it's more about my fiancée and her family. I just tried to be there to support them where I could and try to make a horrible situation a little bit easier." They lived in Saundersfoot. Grimes was vocal about the funeral of Alwyn as well, during the pandemic restrictions. "I think there were six people allowed at the funeral. In hindsight with all the stuff that came out later, it is just barbaric to be honest."

Matt Grimes on fiancé Angela : Her family are originally from Saundersfoot, which is about an hour down the road, so there are family ties, and the birth of Myla Rose has really just cemented that.

That tells you a lot about Swansea City’s captain, he upholds things that are close to him most dearly. And that brings us around to a transfer to Sheffield United or any club this summer. Every summer Matt is linked with clubs, last year Leeds United, Fulham and Brighton have been also been linked during previous summers. Watford as well. There are more. However many of these clubs have never made it to stage one in any transfer discussions. There are numerous people within Swansea City who will laugh openly if they were told Grimes could leave. He is invested in the club and the club are very much invested in him. Luke Williams is a fan, have no doubts. “We are so fortunate having the skipper, again and again he shows his quality on the ball, and his commitment off it” Williams has used numerous superlatives that embody his skippers excellence since his arrival in Swansea in early January. Again though, the link between his head coach, the club the community, his family, and of course the pending arrival of twins in September are very strong bonds.

A settled family life on what is very decent money for the Championship, and all that with the security and a bright future ? All that comes to a player who is still contracted to the Swans for three more years. That’s hard to turn down. And then there’s Leon Britton. He had a Blades experience that ended quickly, the lure of more money just not enough for the Swans great. And that’s the final word really, what would it take to take away the Swans Captain ? Five, six, seven, eight million ? And what price Matt Grimes, a high earner already ? Thirty, forty thousand a week ? This is where the club are at, and nobody knows what the Swans would declare at ?

And would he really give up what he has worked for and earned at Swansea ?

Only if the price was so stupid, and so ridiculous surely ? But it’s the Indy opinion it just isn’t going to happen.

Photograph : Swansea Independent & Instagram

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