It’s getting towards the time of the season when clubs, managers and fans want their squads in shape, players in and of course players out, and as ever for it to happen overnight. As we know from day to day with all manner of things to be discussed that isn’t going to happen. The swans are hard at work doing their best to get in the players manager Steve Cooper wants, and that hard work is continuing.
News this morning, and it doesn’t come as a surprise is that Newcastle United and Southampton have displayed ‘ a form’ of interest in Matt Grimes again, and potentially more realistically Fulham and Bournemouth. The cherries have already made a big move for Freddie Woodman over the last twenty four hours too which seems to have stalled, for whatever reason, potentially an injury to a Newcastle keeper higher up the pecking order. We will leave a big question mark over that for now, it doesn’t ring true to us here at all.
It’s likely that Freddie Woodman would prefer a permanent move, if not a loan to a club to the championship, and isn’t too fussed on Leeds United making inquiries as he would be number two there, and that isn’t what he wants. The Newcastle link to Matt Grimes is an interesting one as is Southampton, it’s highly likely you won’t find an earlier reference to this than the report on here some while back. The swans will want around 6 million for Grimes, with 150 plus appearances and numerous admirers across the championship and premier league that could be a real steal. The main issue will be replacing him in a Swansea City midfield already lacking flair and creativity.
It seems Matt Grimes is wanted by numerous clubs
There doesn’t seem to be any player at Newcastle who would make the switch in a player plus cash deal on Tyneside, Woodman is valued far higher than Grimes, and the only real possibility is Michael Obefami at Southampton who is now back from a serious injury. An injury which prevented his switch to Swansea in January. We do feel that someone will come in for Grimes positively in the coming days, however it’s a matter of that clubs valuation set against Swansea City’s expectations from a cash offer. All four interested clubs have the money to spend, and in the case of Bournemouth an owner with a history of buying his way into the premier league. Let’s not forget that.
Michael Obefami is now of interest to Blackburn Rovers
The chase for the loan player we reported yesterday continues, it really doesn’t look like Freddie Woodman for all the reasons given above, and the swans are on a cash saving mission this season despite three quality permanent signings in the last two weeks. That surely means players out, but it’s only Grimes that seems of some interest currently, which we think is going to stall any potential loan signing until he goes. Of course we could be entirely wrong here but a cash injection from his sale will go a very long way to making the ‘significant loan signing‘ the swans desperately want a reality - plus we hear two more players that could well come in if funds for Grimes are received.
On the George Byers situation, there is unconfirmed rumours this morning too he could leave for Sheffield Wednesday and Barry Bannan potentially come to the swans in return.
As ever we will keep you up to date as much as we can as the summer progresses.
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