The blow to Steve Cooper who looked like he had secured the services of Michael Obafemi from Southampton on Sunday afternoon is still being felt at the Liberty. As we reported he was signed and nearly sealed before a major injury put the jinx on his coming to Swansea. So, where are Cooper and his staff looking towards now ?
The Southampton striker blow was one thing, then Celtic upped the financial anti on Joel Randall at Exeter City almost ensuring Swansea's interest in the player was watered down. The Grecians are looking for around 1.7 million for Randall and we honestly believe this figure is way too high for an untested and only recently known striker. Max Watters club Crawley have definitely resigned themselves to losing the striker, but again their financial expectation has risen amid interest from Swansea City and other clubs. However, the swans are the only club to have made a bid believed to be around five hundred thousand pounds. Both players are gambles thats for sure and the price on their heads, as it stands may well not be met by any side looking at them. So, Swansea City's bid remains on the table.
So, where are Andy Scott and his employers looking now for some respite to the increasing demands on Jamal Lowe and Andre Ayew ? Here is what we know, Folarin Balogun the Arsenal New York-born player has been at North London side for 11 years. Balogun is highly productive at the Gunners — his record for the age groups there are a testament to that. In 41 games for the Under-18s he has 38 goals and eight assists to go alongside 17 goals and six assists for the Under-23s. In total, he has 57 goals in Arsenal colours. This season he has four goals in 10 Premier League 2 appearances and three goals in seven cup games for Arsenal — including two goals in four Europa League appearances for the first team. As stated New York-born Balogun has been at North London side Arsenal for 11 years, he now needs development.
The issue with Balogun is the competition for his signature, once again other premier league sides are interested as well as the swans and Brentford. the swans though have made formal contact. That we do know, albeit to seek out his availability and interest. Arsenal as well as many other premier league sides know only too well his development is best served at Swansea, but one of those other premier league sides Interested is Liverpool. We do have a source who knows about the dealings here and they tell us this could well prove to be a better moved for Balogun than any other, and that Swansea are offering concrete loan terms.
Another rumour is Leeds academy product 20 year old Jack Clarke at Tottenham. What we do know here is Clarke has received no offers and certainly not from Swansea as yet. It sounds a bit like he has an agent wanting him out on the road and not sat in Spurs reserves. His agent is ex Leeds star the experienced Ian Harte, and it shouldn't go unnoticed Harte will be influential on youngster like Clarke who definitely has bags of talent. He is a versatile winger with pace and scores goals and has already made a minimal impact on the first team squad. Mourinho is impressed and has given him games in the Europa League after he returned from his loan spell at QPR. Clarke was previously at Leeds before Spurs signed him for ten million then returning him to Leeds on loan.
Keinan Davies at Aston Villa has cropped up this morning, however we do know his manager Dean Smith is not keen to let him go out on loan or for a fee, and the player himself isn't keen on a move to the championship. We shouldn't rule Davies out but securing a player with aspirations elsewhere will not please Cooper or Marsh so we can only rate this rumour as a 3 out of 10. Watch him sign for the swans now ! Seriously this is fact, and these facts are not ideal in tempting away a player like Davies The ex Biggleswade Town player who is now 22 must see this season as a chance to improve his game, he has just signed a deal at Villa that takes him to 2024, so time is on his side.
We aim to keep you fully informed on the Swansea City question when it comes to all matters at the club. We have closely guarded sources contacts and friends over many years who do offer some very helpful guidance when compiling news on players and the club.
So we hope you enjoy our quest to keep you abreast with the very best !
Cant believe I just wrote that.
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