As we correctly reported two days ago, Morgan Whittaker agreed a loan deal to leave Swansea City until the end of this season on Christmas Eve, and trusting in our sources for that information there is more today. Although it has never been about being first it was pretty reassuring the national newspapers and other websites followed suit in reporting our news yesterday, and indeed today.
Some of the same websites that couldn’t read the Joel Piroe story very well seem convinced we are right this time. It’s an odd world.
Liam Cullen
Russell Martin has made it very clear that certain players are not in his plans and as Morgan Whittaker found out he isn’t one of them, at this time that is. The same applies to Liam Cullen. Liam is another striker who has struggled at the swans this season, twelve appearances and no goals reflect another swans player possibly at a career crossroads. He has never been prolific, even at Under 23 level and when he did step up to the first team he found goals hard to come by. Up until this season he had only managed four goals in a total of twenty eight appearances. That’s forty Swansea City appearances, and a one goal in ten return, albeit many were from the subs bench. But remember he is a striker.
Liam is very well thought of by the swans hierarchy, an academy graduate from Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire, at twenty two years of age expectations are now at the point that he should have kicked on. He hasn’t. It is hard for anyone to present a case for Liam, and despite inclusion in many match day squads this season when many would have preferred Morgan Whittaker it seems now the penny has dropped. If he see’s his future on the bench at Swansea this season it won’t sit well with many swans fans. Like Morgan he needs to explore his options. And he has been told by Russell Martin if options arise the club will explore them, and he will have to as well.
Liams‘s options
Swansea City are keen to land two of MK Dons starlets in Harry Darling and Andrew Fisher. The latter is almost over the line apart from valuations from both clubs which seem far apart. However, as we have reported in the last three months Liam Cullen would be seen as an excellent option in any deal to bring the MK pair to the swans. Along with Brandon Cooper there is leverage there. If Fisher did make it to SA1, Steven Benda who isn’t a stranger to League one football is another viable consideration. That all considered there will be other loan options for Liam. Having been brought up in west Wales and playing within the protected set up of the Swansea City system he really does need to think very deeply about his football career.
Lincoln City are also showing interest which could be a very decent half season loan for Liam. We’ve been told the swans haven’t dismissed that out of hand.
What we do know now is there has been interest in Liam from League one clubs, plus Newport County who have seen numerous swans academy players be a resounding success in recent years. A move not too far away from home would maybe suit Liam. Especially if it is only a fairly short drive down the road. It would also prove to be a big test of his character at League two level, and his ability to score goals.
The other option is a permanent transfer, we are not going to speculate on who has contacted the swans about this, but we have been told two clubs, again from league one are interested. If we were to throw our thoughts in to who that is then Portsmouth and Sunderland would be clubs who could possibly go to £150k for Liam. Plymouth who are looking up now rather than down are bound to be interested after links with him in the summer which were confirmed at the time. You could also throw Cheltenham in to the mix as well, but as we say, nothing is sourced from our end on this. Just speculation from certain quarters, albeit respected certain quarters.
Liam Cullen can’t sit on the bench for the rest of this season, he has to leave the club, at the very least on loan. With the swans ready to discuss terms for Leeds United Sam Greenwood, and if that happens Liam is fourth choice. It presents an impossible situation for him at his age and stage of his career.
He has to get in to the mode of ‘ I’m leaving the swans ‘ he has had his chances this season but he hasn’t in any way impressed. A return of that cheeky confidence is needed. He has the quality. It’s definitely something we think will happen in the coming weeks, and if Cullen doesn’t like it he may well find himself so far back in the swans selection process he will become a very much forgotten man. And that would be tragic.