The real truth behind Chiedozie Ogbene’s move to the swans can be revealed now after much of what would be considered the initial detail has been ironed out between Swansea City and Rotherham United. Sources stating the move is a done deal are far wide of the mark, especially as registration of the player cannot be done until January 1st.
However, Ogbene has been able to get his representatives to have dialogue with Swansea City and he is one of five favoured targets for Russell Martin. Not all will come off, especially a loan signing which is a preferred choice in defence. The lack of playing time for defender Fin Stevens has disturbed the players club to some extent, he has only appeared five times this season for Swansea City at a time Brentford believed the Welsh international would press on with numerous first team opportunities.
Staying with Fin he is also disappointed and Brentford are keen to gauge his opinion on remaining at Swansea until the end of the season. He has learned much from off field training methods and being close to and in a first team squad set up but wanted to be tested for more than he has over the past five months. Speaking to a source recently we are aware that Brentford have been monitoring Fin closely and would have liked to see him given more time in the first team. There hasn’t been a recall of the player notified by Brentford but it’s more than likely to happen at the players behest.
The comparison to Rhys Williams who was on loan from Liverpool last season, and who also only played five games is there for all to see. We are told neither player possesses or possessed the acumen or ability to carry out the role required of them. Make of that what you will.
Back to Ogbene, we first reported the swans interest in him in May this year. We documented his appeal, if that’s the right word for the swans to come and get him, confirmed by a source who is rarely wrong when we discuss these things.
You can read that here –> Swansea are a big club
Of course eyebrows were raised when we reported this, and of course here we are now ‘possibly’ days away from a transfer.
Our headline from seven months ago
The real issue for Swansea City in the summer was the price on Ogbene’s head. He still had a year to run on his contract, and the price expected by Rotherham United was in excess of two million pounds. Swansea were not prepared to pay that and not dissimilar to the current situation for Ryan Manning at Swansea waited until last week to pursue something more realistic. The other issue is Ogbene’s goal scoring record, it isn’t impressive, one goal in ten for Rotherham over a hundred games is an example. And that has improved marginally but not when compared to Michael Obafemi this year or Joel Piroe. We have been told Russell Martin would like to see him more in the midfield attacking area, like Ollie Cooper or Jamie Paterson. The latter now in a position we understand to find a new club in January. However, like Jay Fulton a year ago, the only clubs possibly interested wouldn’t suit him.
Chiedozie’s preferred position is playing off the striker on the right or left as the swans found out on the opening day of the season when Ogbene scored for the millers in a 1-1 draw. The other hold up in the summer was then manager Paul Warne who wanted time to get the player to the end of the year and get his new contract sorted. Unfortunately for Warne he left the club after 176 games in charge in September. Matt Taylor is the current manager.
Chiedozie Ogbene‘s future is most certainly away from Rotherham United, his preferred move is Swansea City but there still needs to be some work done if the club can stretch to meet his salary. Plus, and this is possibly far more relevant his recent hamstring injury caused a lot of concern for manager Taylor. "It’s a hamstring complaint, and we know that he is a powerhouse. We can’t rush him back, but he is back on the grass. He is probably going to have a few more days of high-intensity training” Ogbene was out for around four weeks.
That’s the next hurdle, so for anyone to say the deal is done and dusted is not only foolhardy it’s completely inaccurate. And we know all about hamstring injuries this season do we not ?
The Indie View
We believe the club out in front to sign Ogbene is Swansea City. We would be extremely surprised if he isn’t a swans player soon. But there is some extra work to do. And also if he does come in then we expect at least two to leave quite quickly.