In their first season in the Premier League Swansea City opened eyes with fluid passing and positional interchanges reminiscent of a baby Barcelona. In their second season the stylish play continued to impress and led to the club hoisting the League Cup, its first major piece of silverware in the Swans’ 101 year history.
So with the news that the Welsh side could swoop for up to six players in the summer transfer window, is the 2013-14 Premier League season set to be yet another chapter in the rise of the Swans?
The biggest concern in South Wales is not who the club will bring in so much as who they will transfer out. The list of possibilities is quite long and topping it is manager Michael Laudrup. In his first year at the Swansea helm the Dane has earned praise across the league not only for his team’s stunning performances but also for the players who he’s brought into the squad.
The $3/£2 million signing of Michu (pictured) from Rayo Vallecano gets the most attention but bringing in Chico from Genoa, Jonathan de Guzman (on loan) from Villareal, Ki-Sung Yueng from Celtic and Pablo Hernández from Valencia have all paid huge dividends for Swansea. It’s not often that a manager signs five players who in the first year of being at a club all assimilate so seamlessly. Such is the masterstroke of Laudrup.
Following the Swans 5-0 destruction of Bradford City in the Capital One Cup, chairman Huw Jenkins signed Laudrup to a contract extension through to June 2015. The signing came amid speculation that Laudrup could be tempted to depart the Liberty Stadium for greener pastures. And while those concerns abated slightly by the manager’s decision to re-up many still feel that if that right situation presented itself, the former Denmark captain would be out that door just like his predecessor Brendan Rodgers.
Player wise, there are numerous concerns as well.
Michu has been marvelous in his first season for the Swans, scoring 16 goals in 29 matches. The beanstalk forward makes his living between the opposition’s midfield and defense and is equally adept at poaching as he is striking from outside the box. Although few hard and fast transfer rumors have emerged, Sir Alex Ferguson has noted his awe at the player on a number of occasions. Don’t be surprised if come this summer the United gaffer throws a low-ball offer Jenkins’ way.
Ashley Williams is the heart and soul of the club, leading the back four since his arrival in 2008. A powerful player and wonderful organizer, Williams has traveled a long road from association football to the Premier League. Now, an elder statesman at the age of 28, Williams is finally being recognized as one of the best center-backs in English football. With Liverpool, Arsenal and United all rumored to be plotting bids for the Welsh international, Swansea will need to take a hard look at bringing in new blood at center-back.
Michel Vorm has been a revelation since arriving at the Liberty Stadium from FC Utrecht in 2011. The 29 year old was one of the best keepers in the league last season and despite suffering a rash of injuries this year (including a nasty partial adductor rupture), the Dutch international has still impressed. With rumors that Barcelona and Arsenal are both interested in Vorm’s services, Swansea may need to reload between the pipes if they aren’t convinced that backup Gerhard Tremmel can get the job done.
While Michu, Williams and Vorm are the three most likely to be plucked from South Wales, other Swansea men could go just as easily. De Guzman has expressed his desire to extend his loan but the center midfielder has shown such immense quality that it’s hard to think Villareal won’t be interested in bringing him back to Spain. Nathan Dyer’s tremendous speed and slippery nature makes him a menace on the wing even if the 25 year old has yet to prove his consistency. And even one-time journeyman, Wayne Routledge, is likely to have a number of potential suitors this summer after proving that he can pull the strings with the best of them.
When it comes to the future of Swansea City Football Club, anything is possible. But if they manage to hang on to Laudrup one feels the majority of the players will be convinced to stay put. Then, factor in the possibility of six new faces arriving at the Liberty this summer and 2013-14 could prove to be a very entertaining season for the Swans.