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Football News: Swansea City Transfer Window Round Up

Swansea City Transfer Window Round Up
Image from: walesonline.co.uk

On the face of it Swansea City had an exellent transfer window and manager Gary Monk must be extremely happy with the work done over the summer. Certainly early season form suggests that the signings the south Wales club have brought in are the right one. As ever, chairman Huw Jenkins has taken a measured approach to transfers, refusing to get carried away with the money available to strengthen.

The Swans have lifted themselves into the top bracket, while living within their means, over the last few years, gradually building on the previous year's work to create a solid base for the future. It is difficult not to be impressed with the way Swansea have gone about things, unless you are from Cardiff! This is now a club with all the blocks in place to make a regular challenge for European football.

 

Despite the club's recent success, the so-called big boys have not sniffed around the better players over the summer, so the team has a settled look for this season. The outs were just those deemed surplus by Monk, enabling him to continue to mould the side in what has become the Swansea style of play. The outs are as follows:

Jazz Richards left to join English Championship side Fulham. The right back had never been able to force his way into the side on a regular basis and last season's signing of Kyle Naughton left him surplus to requirements.

Connor Roberts has gone out on loan to Yeovil Town.

Alan Tate has been released. The veteran centre back has yet to find a new club.

Alex Samuel has gone up north to join Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton on loan.

 

Scott Tancock was released.

Rory Donnelly joined Gillingham on a free transfer.

David Cornell has gone to Oldham Athletic on a free.

Giancarlo Gallifuoco and Curtis Obeng were both released.

Adam King and Stephen Kingsley have both headed to Crewe Alexandra on loan.

Kenji Gorre has headed to Holland to join ADO Den Haag on loan.

Nathan Dyer made a surprise deadline day move to Leicester City. The right winger was a stalwart of the team that won promotion to the Premier League, but has faded out of the first team picture in recent seasons.

Oliver Davies has joined Kilmarnock on loan.

Modou Barrow has gone out on loan to Blackburn Rovers.

Dwight Tiendalli has been allowed to leave the club after a new contract could not be agreed. The Dutch right back is searching for a new club.

 

The outs may have been a straight forward case of moving on surplus players, but this summer's transfer window has seen a very definite move to strengthen the sides weak points. The forward areas of the pitch have seen a real influx of talent for this season. The ins are:

Franck Tabanou has arrived from Saint-Etienne. The left back will hope to fill what has been a problem position for the Swans in recent years.

Kristoffer Nordfeldt has joined from SC Heerenveen. The Swedish keeper has a growing reputation, but it is not expected that he will prove to be anything more than a back up.

Oliver McBurnie has been signed from Bradford City. The young forward is unlikely to see first team action this season.

Botti Biabi, another young forward, has been bought from Falkirk in Scotland. Another one for the future.

Josh Vickers has come in from Arsenal's youth system.

Andre Ayew is the big signing of the summer, despite being on a free transfer from Olympique Marseille. The Ghana winger is the son of African footballing legend Abedi Pele and his brother has also arrived in English football this summer, though Jordan Ayew has joined Aston Villa, rather than Swansea. Ayew, on the evidence of the season so far, has the potential to make Swansea a threat to any team they face.

Eder was Swansea's biggest money signing of the transfer window, the Portugese forward arriving from SC Braga.

Tom Holland has been brought over from Manchester City's youth academy.

 

All in all this looks to be an excellent transfer window for Swansea City, who have concentrated on evolving the side gradually, rather than trying to bring in a whole new side. The additions look to have made a real improvement in quality to the team, and match up nicely with the existing squad. While finishing in the top four is a big ask this season, on paper the team is certainly capable of that.

The problem Swansea will have is when injuries and suspensions hit, their form may well suffer as key players miss games during busy periods. If they can keep new signing Andre Ayew, flying Ecuadorian winger Jefferson Montero and Jonjo Shelvey fit and available for most of the season, then they have a very real chance of surprising everyone with their season. The key though, for me, is Jack Cork. Keeping him fit and in form will make all the difference to where the Swans finish the season.

Written by Tris Burke September 02 2015 20:52:04