Swans Head Coach, Alan Sheehan has played down the Swans recruitment teams efforts to bring in a striker this summer, seven days after reporting a better picture. Last week he was giving a promising report on the eventuality. As we know names have been bandied about from offers to players or targets on their way to Swansea all summer, ninety five percent completely wrong. And if if they were right, then where are those players today ?
Regular readers will know those players we have covered, and in many cases dismissed. Yusef Erabi (below) being the first one we excluded way before the mainstream media as some like to call them reported their exclusives. Yes he was looked at as we stated, but no 750k bid.
Remember the words of the Hammarby Sporting Director, Mikael Hjelmberg last week ? "WE have been in contact with Swansea. WE have been. To be completely honest, I don’t know. There is no ongoing discussion in any case,” He went on, "WE have been in contact with a few different clubs” The blurred lines have to be scrutinised at times. It was a blatant attempt by Hammarby to get the Swans interested, nobody else.
Moussa Sylla ? Nah, why bother.
The real news possibly isn’t the latest striker update from Sheehan because we are still convinced the right one will be joining the Swans. Yes, he’s swerved a bit from last Thursday pre Sheffield United, but these things as we constantly say are very fluid. They change constantly. What we know on this striker is that if he has been mentioned anywhere else we haven’t seen it. Anyone who thinks it’s easy should spend some time with some of the agents we talk to, it’s an absolute horror show. The issue this time is the money, not only for his services but salary. There is an expectation amongst some players that the Championship is awash with money, especially in more northern countries in mainland Europe. Sheehan has said in this pre match Watford interview this afternoon that the club won’t buy in someone for the sake of it - and then after a few months realise they have a player who doesn’t fit. We know now that the loan market continues to be explored by the Swans for positions, even up front, although when reported a week or so ago that wasn’t the case.
This recruitment team have brought us in some real gems which seems to have shut up a few on the internet about who they are. That’s worth a mention as well.
⚽️ Sheehan interview below.
🔴 Exclusive : Vipotnik and Sheehan talks. The issue with Zăn Vipotnik is off the field as well as on it. He wasn’t happy not getting game time last weekend (source) and of course with Sheehan talking up a striker just before that game he isn’t happy. You will also deduce this from his interview above, he clearly states Liam Cullen has the shirt despite also mentioning his scoring numbers being poor. None of this is sitting well with Vipotnik who we have already seen in a Swans shirt this season, despite his toe injury it isn’t exciting anyone. He has had talks with Sheehan about leaving, he really isn’t happy. Confronting the Swans Head Coach on his future, he is borderline if not already verbally putting in a transfer request. He still has that knack of arriving too late for nailed on strikers chances in the box, his awareness and concentration isn’t at all good. People say give him time, we say he’s had enough time.
There is obvious news of players leaving, Cameron Congreve reported by the Dundee Courier a potential loan signing for the rest of the season is one. Ollie Cooper (below) who we stated could be leaving on the Indy on June 29th has again raised eyebrows.
⚽️ Then we stated : All we have on that is Ollie is a player that would be available for the right terms. He is still seen as a valuable asset to the Swans for the coming season and no official talk has taken place. He is a Welsh international and a part of the many ex academy players to reach the Swans first team and contribute to its current success. We have also been informed that if Ollie was to leave the club permanently then the increased revenue share for players being released for the 2026 World Cup adds more value to him as a transfer. That’s money that the Swans won’t want to lose. They are looking into that currently.
As the transfer window reaches a crescendo, it ends on September 1st at 7pm UK time, so no late night shenanigans this time around. But you can bet there will be massive ups and downs between now and then. Big match build up tomorrow.