Summer Transfer Window | Page 3 | Vital Football

Summer Transfer Window

No excuses for that abysmal display yesterday in the first 60’ match against Saints first team, but surprised that their media made headline news of it and reported it as one 120’ match and a 7-1 defeat rather than two separate 60’ matches of 7-0 and 0-1.
Both our teams were a mixture of first team players, new signings, free transfers, squad players, and Academy players, whilst Saints played their full first team in the first match and squad players in the second match. A pity that we didn’t do the same as it would have been a fairer reflection on our progress since the teams last met in the PL.
Speaking of which, what a horrible day that was too, when a 0-1 home defeat by Saints relegated us, when we only needed a win to stay up, and rubbing salt in the wound was their equally horrible Welsh manager Mark Hughes.
Since then Saints have gone from strength to strength, whilst the Swans have gone the other way. We are now starting our third season in the Championship after selling/getting rid of 30+ players in a fire sale that knew no bounds, and which nearly bankrupted the club and only the kitchen sink was left by our heartless hedge-fund owners.
Our team is now mainly made up of free transfers and youth players from our Academy, so maybe the Southampton media should take this into account when splashing headline news of their massive one match victory in what was in truth only a pre-match kick-about.
Not taking anything away from Southampton though as they have an excellent team there at the moment and a top manager. They certainly showed us yesterday the huge gap in playing skills and what standard we need to attain if we are serious about regaining our PL status again.
 
I hate to single players out but looking at the highlights our number 30 defender Tivonge Rushesha was a disaster on the right in the first match and got beaten 3 or 4 times resulting in goals. Just turned 18 he’s never played with the first team in a league match and Cooper shouldn’t have exposed him like that to Saints first team onslaught. He should have played in the second match against their reserves. Not that Naughton, Cabango, Bidwell and Grimes were any better though.
 
An encouraging post on Twitter from someone who was at the match yesterday:
“As bad as Swansea were in todays first match ..they looked very impressive in the 2nd match against a side with a fair share of Premier league players...they will def be knocking on door of top 2 this season”
 
Swans captain Matt Grimes is wanted by recently relegated Watford.
We value him at £10 million.
The policy of selling anything that moves continues so I expect he’ll be gone soonest.
Grimes, an ever present in the team was on the subs bench yesterday, and Ayew was made captain.
 
Looks highly likely Grimes will leave. Big blow for us with the seasons almost upon us and the squad is still severely lacking goals and attacking creativity. Lets hope we can bring some more in within the next week or so.
 
One thing you do not do is sell to your rivals, but seemingly anything goes with our callous owners desperate to claw back their investment at all costs.
We were keeping our Academy 1 status according to Birch, suddenly we’re not and are downgraded to Academy 2. I wonder if that was part of the reason he left half-way through his rescue plan.
The American owners have been nothing but bad news since they took over.
Another clear-out of players is on the cards.
 
French Ligue1 side Dijon are after Bersant Celina, two years after he signed for us from Man City. Still only 23 years old he came for an undisclosed fee thought to be in the region of £3 mill at that time.
Ignored by Cooper for most of last season, it’s a shame but I think he’ll be on his way.
 
Leeds are reported to be after Ben Cabango, now we would be mad to let him go. He made his debut for Wales last night, coming on as sub in the 0-1 away win in Finland.
 
One of our best players was allowed to run down his contract and go for free, leaving us just after the recent play-off semi-final against Brentford. Here’s the result of that folly:
“Bundesliga new boys Arminia Bielefeld have confirmed the signing of former Swansea City defender, 27 year old Mike van der Hoorn on a three year deal”
 
Further signings?
“We lost 11 players at the end of last season so we needed to bring some players in and we still need strengthening in some positions,” said the Swans boss.
“We’re still in that process and it needs to go a bit quicker, but it was good that we got a few players in early as we had to get the ball rolling fairly quickly.
“We need some strikers, there’s no doubt about that and I’d like another centre-back as well. We’re hopeful that we can still do that.”
 
Journalist Adam Crawford claiming Matt Grimes was offered a new improved contract by the Swans but has turned it down amid strong interest from Watford.
 
Celina’s No.10 shirt was worn by Ayew, who captained the team, against Forest Green.
On the official site Ayew is still showing as No.22.
Celina not even in the squad list.
Neither is McKay, nor John.
Grimes still listed as No.8, as is Peterson at No.11.
 
Here’s the squad list just released on the official site, no Celina, McKay or John:
Swansea City 2020-21 first-team squad numbers:
1. Freddie Woodman
4. Joe Rodon
5. Marc Guehi
6. Jay Fulton
7. Korey Smith
8. Matt Grimes
9. Jamal Lowe
10. Andre Ayew
11. Morgan Gibbs-White
13. Steven Benda
15. Wayne Routledge
16. Joel Asoro
17. Kristoffer Peterson
20. Liam Cullen
21. Yan Dhanda
23. Connor Roberts
24. Jake Bidwell
26. Kyle Naughton
27. Josh Gould
28. George Byers
30. Tivonge Rushesha
41. Jordon Garrick
44. Ben Cabango


 
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Ex-Swan Tom Carroll has signed a one year contract with QPR after a short trial there.
He had been without a club since last January after the Swans terminated his contract early.
 
Young defender Brandon Cooper has joined Newport County on a season long loan.
Maybe we should borrow some of their players after last Saturday’s result.
 
Journalist on Twitter-
Adam Crawford@adamcraw95
SWANSEA- Ex manager Graham Potter could be helping you out soon. Understand a young Brighton talent will join the club on loan.
Believe it’s Viktor Gyökeres

A 22 year old, 6’2” Swedish forward signed by Brighton in Jan 2018
and played mainly for their U-23’s, plus five cup games for the first team without scoring. Last season he went on loan to German second tier side FC St Pauli and scored 7 goals in 28 games.
In Jan 2019, Gyökeres made his senior international debut for Sweden in a 0–1 loss against Finland. Just three days later, Gyökeres scored his first senior goal for Sweden in a 2–2 draw vs Iceland.
 
The Daily Mail is reporting that Celina is to sign a four year contract for French Ligue 1 club Dijon, in a £3m deal today (Wed). They say he has been sacrificed by Steve Cooper because of financial restrictions.
In other transfer news the kitchen sink is being dismantled as we speak, and Alan Curtis’s kettle has disappeared overnight.
 
Swans midfielder Jack Evans has joined Cypriot club FC Pafos on a season long loan. He joins up again with ex-Swans U-23 coaches Cameron Toshack and Gary Richards.
 
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