Swansea City midfielder Olivier Ntcham is allegedly open to offers to leave the club in the coming weeks, even if that means a loan until the end of the season. With his contract up next year a loan seems a strange option on the surface but of course if that’s the only option leaving him a free agent next June then the swans should take it.
It seems unlikely he will be offered a new contract in any event at Swansea. And of course he commands a very high salary which the swans would like to see covered should he leave. Even half of his salary well spent with the rest banked would secure one of Russell Martin’s key targets. And he does still have them.
There is allegedly some interest from French clubs and second tier side ‘En Avant Guingamp’ are amongst several others who are linked. To understand why this has surfaced we have to understand Ntcham’s current situation at Swansea. He isn’t a first team regular, and his performances haven’t been that overwhelming after the initial honeymoon period at Swansea. There were some mutterings of him being open to leaving the club at the end of the season, but at that time of the year everyone is linked with everywhere.
What makes these rumours more than just speculation is that there are links between Mansa Sports Management & Consulting who represent Ntcham, and Guingamp. Some of the players they represent, and it’s nearly always French / African players also have Guingamp links, however we shouldn’t take any of that in isolation. It’s a bit like saying Jürgen Klopp is a German.
There is a reason why David Kent ( a journalist ) on ‘Twitter’ mentioned a potential loan deal for Ntcham with French clubs interested, he didn’t just pluck that name out of the air over his corn flakes yesterday morning. Mansa as a company surface in certain guises now and again, they are a respected sports group who offer placement and client surfaces for the likes of Ntcham and look after Moussa Dembélé as an example. Their client list isn’t long, but it is impressive. The prime movers at the company being Mamadi Fofana and Makan Fofana. Both are skilled agents with strong links across France and Africa.
Mamadi Fofana far left and Moussa Dembélé when he signed for Glasgow Celtic
And let’s not forget this isn’t just about a move to France, the news is out there now, and clubs are alerted. Distant drums all over the place indeed. Those of you that read our features will know we have some good friendships and associations within this area of football. The reasons are varied from having sympathy’s with our awareness campaigns for the brain tumour charity right through to personal interest in getting news out there.
These guys ( the Fofana’s) are the reason why Ntcham came to Swansea in the main, however we shouldn’t forget that then Sporting Director Mark Allen was also heavily involved. He has known Ntcham since he was sixteen. But to get to Ntcham you go through the Fofana’s, that’s the deal. There is no doubt that Ntcham has one eye now on next June when his contract expires, and he also knows there is a distinct possibility the swans won’t offer him new terms. It’s clear now that Ntcham is being touted for a move by certain influential parties connected to him, and no doubt Swansea City know about this as well. As we’ve featured on here before, agents talk to agents, clubs talk to agents, agents source players for clubs and advise clubs regards who is available. They have private conversations as to who they have on their books and who wants to move - and those happen every day three hundred and sixty five days a year.
And have a guess what ? Sometimes it isn’t official ! There was a clear confusion in the minds of the unexpected and not so agile in January over a certain move to Swansea that never materialised. It isn’t always black and white, and most certainly not within the cerebral gift of those who walk around with their eyes squinting, scratching their heads and looking confused.
There is something in Ntcham and him leaving Swansea that’s for sure, but at what level isn’t certain. What we do know is that having spoken to a good source there have been no offers, no talks and definitely no loan offers. With that being said, and we believe our source entirely, how did David Kent on Twitter and his associates come by the ‘out of the blue’ report that there is interest in Ntcham in France ? And not least that a ‘loan’ is an option ? How else would they ‘stumble’ across this information ?
Personally I can’t imagine how on earth they found out. It’s mystifying isn’t it ?
An unsettled player of Ntcham’s ability is pretty easy to move on, and with a few weeks to go to the end of the transfer window it seems he is keen to do so, or at least listen to a few things before the end of the month. Swansea City as well will be hopeful they can free up his salary along with Jordon Garrick and Kyle Joseph ( passed a medical last night at Oxford ) and make a few more inquiries in to the transfer market as well. Olivier Ntcham is a decent add to any club, and if he was to come to Swansea as a new player this month he would be seen as good value. He retains the ball well and is strong, that is when he wants to be. In this current Swansea City side you have to work hard all of the time, and maybe that’s not a trait he possesses as we all have seen.
Time will tell, but this development does have some legs, not big striding galloping ones, but very small steps, and possibly a few deep breaths. They may come to something they may not. A bit like Oliver Ntcham really.
Swansea City’s business is most certainly not over yet.