Swansea City are still being linked with League One players and a surprising addition is that of Ricardo Santos who is available as an out of contract player. The former Bolton centre back has his admirers at Swansea and there are a lot of factors as to the reasons why, but Bolton Wanderers fans are split on him.

Ricardo hasn’t played at Championship level but he is currently being viewed by the club as potential back up with Harry Darling and his agent looking elsewhere for a bigger contract away from Swansea. We have been told that Ricardo is of interest, but he is merely one of numerous centre backs being reviewed. Despite some good news with Bobby Wales and Zeidane Inoussa both incoming there is a link to salaries - and all of the new Swans players coming in this summer. That link is the club are looking to marginalise their player outgoings when it comes to wages.

When you reflect upon the remuneration for Ronald, Franco, Eom, Bianchini and Vipotnik all are being paid what the Swans deem as comfortable figures, and in any event no more than eight thousand pounds a week. Liam Cullen signed on for far less than that and now has a contract until summer 2028. Ben Cabango is an exception but he eventually agreed to a contract that he felt comfortable with, and he too has a contract which runs until 2028.

The centre back partnership issue hasn’t been a problem at Swansea when both Harry Darling and Ben Cabango are fit. However, it’s pretty much guaranteed Darling will leave and be at another club next season. That hole needs plugging and the Swans are looking to start next season with two new centre backs (they have three targets) and a keen view to retain Ben Cabango. To find a player with the competency of Harry Darling isn’t easy, in fact it is presenting a bit of a challenge to the recruiting team. Santos has played just one game from a possible twenty one since January.

His 2021 stats for Bolton were incredible but he remained at the club for five years and now with his thirtieth birthday ahead of him next month will be looking for ‘just one more contract’

Santos has been of interest to the Swans since January.

We could be wrong but this doesn’t feel right for us, if he signed it wouldn’t be a surprise, okay he will bring experience but wasn’t that the brief with Cyrus Christie ? Bolton fans don’t see him as an effective player even in League One. Not now in any event. He has lost his way but there are a few who rate him highly and beleive in a well focussed side he can regain his mojo. Well, he will get focus from Alan Sheehan for sure.

With the play offs ongoing we cannot comment too much on twenty four year old ex Manchester United academy recruit Ethan Galbraith, the Leyton Orient defender. However, we can assure everyone he was the subject of a bid from Swansea on February 1st this year. That was believed to be in the region of £800,000 over three years which was rejected by the O’s. The Swans felt that another offer at that point wouldn’t be advisable and cooled their interest. Now with his side potentially heading for the Championship themselves with a play off against Charlton Athletic at Wembley at the end of the month, he could well be valued far higher. The Swans haven’t disregarded Ethan and still retain an admiration for him, and he will return to our thoughts over the summer. Maybe quicker if Charlton are victorious.

His manager Richie Wellens has already pushed his name forwards for a summer transfer move. “Ethan Galbraith was outstanding. (Play off semi final) He is a Premier League player in the making and younger players who watch him can see how strong he is in his running. He’s unbelievable and he’s brilliant. We’ve got loads of young players that should be watching him and going ‘he’s intense there, he’s always running, he’s always at it’.”

We can comment that both Santos and Galbraith are of interest still, not as hot as some would indicate (London source) but of interest yes. We have been told that Santos would very much like to sign for the Swans and places the club at the top of his preferred places to go. However, he is just one of many, and with an almost three month transfer window ahead starting in two weeks and ending on September 1st there’s a whole load more to come.

Initial link (Peter O’Rourke) Research Swans Indy team. Pics as stated.

Photograph: Being sourced, believed Camera Sport / Reuters

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