Summer Transfer Window

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As the dust settles on a mad and congested season, where we came within a whisker of Premier League glory, it’s time to regroup and go again.
There will be lots of movement in and out and big decisions to make.
First of all Steve Cooper has to make a decision on his own future. After two successful seasons will he want to move on, with just a year left on his contract and criticism from fans of his negative football. There is strong interest from Crystal Palace and he may find their offer too tempting to turn down.
Leading scorer Andre Ayew’s contract is finished and he will be gone as we can’t afford him.
Chelsea loanee centre-back Marc Guehi vowed Swansea City will “forever be in my heart” after seeing his second loan spell come to an end.
Local products Connor Roberts and Ben Cabango have been named in the Wales squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 finals.
Newcastle loanee goalkeeper Freddie Woodman hopes his Swansea City story is not over after describing his time with the club as the best two years of his life.
Head Coach Steve Cooper has vowed Swansea City will use their play-off final defeat against Brentford as motivation to go one better next season.

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Goodbye André Ayew, our leading scorer has gone -

https://www.swanseacity.com/news/swansea-city-confirm-retained-list

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Kyle Joseph

https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/transfer-news/swansea-city-set-beat-rangers-20729169

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Our first signing of the transfer window -

https://www.swanseacity.com/news/swansea-city-agree-deal-striker-kyle-joseph

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Plenty of rumours on player signings as we edge closer to the first week of July and the start of pre-season training.
Surely we need to clarify our head-coach’s position first though, as he has been strongly linked to the vacant Palace and Fulham jobs recently. Never easy at our club though with our USA owners policy of selling anything that moves to make money, and with a compensation fee of £3.5m on Cooper’s head, they will not stand in his way if he decides to move on.

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So, Palace and Fulham have appointed their new managers and Steve Cooper is still here after touting himself for both jobs.
We don’t know what has gone on behind the scenes at the club, only that he was given permission to talk to interested clubs.
He’s in the final year of his contract and now that he’s staying he needs to make an impression this season again.
So close to promotion in the last two seasons he’s been in charge, his record is very good but some of the football has been dire to watch. Play more attractive football this season and the fans will be happy. To be fair he had one hand tied behind his back with no backing from the owners. If only they’d invested a decent sum in a recognised striker last season we’d be playing in the PL now.
So we come to the present season and here we go again. We’ve just brought in two strikers with potential only. Kyle Joseph and Joel Piroe are done deals, they could come good in the future but they are young and inexperienced when we needed an established goal scorer. Let’s see how it pans out.

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Joel Piroe

https://www.swanseacity.com/news/swansea-city-complete-deal-psv-striker-joel-piroe

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Pre-season starts today, Sat July 3

Here are the details of the July friendlies -

Sat 17 July 15:00 Swindon v Swans
Tue 20 July 19:00 Plymouth v Swans
Sat 24 July 15:00 Bristol Rovers v Swans
Wed 28 July 19:00 Forest Green v Swans
Sat 31 July 15:00 Swans v Southampton

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That makes three -

https://www.swanseacity.com/news/swansea-city-complete-liam-walsh-signing

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So, a stressful close-season is almost over.
Steve Cooper has quit, QPR assistant manager John Eustace almost came but didn’t, and now it looks like MK Dons manager Russell Martin is entering the fray, taking over the reins on a 3 year deal, with only a week to go before the new season starts.

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Shocking if true, our captain Matt Grimes is off to Fulham in the annual fire sale. Not only that but some sources are saying for only £1.5m, are we that desperate for money, that’s a give-away price and surely a mis-print.
Also George Byers to Sheff Wed, both on hold until a new manager is in place.
Our midfield is looking decidedly weak!

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Outclassed yesterday at home to Southampton, here’s the highlights:

https://www.swanseacity.com/news/highlights-swansea-city-v-southampton

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He’s here and raring to go -

https://www.swanseacity.com/news/russell-martin-confirmed-new-swansea-city-head-coach

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I’m liking what he says -

https://www.swanseacity.com/news/russell-martin-i-want-give-swansea-city-fans-team-excites-them

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I’m hoping he puts a block on Grimes leaving. Our midfield looked weak on Saturday against Southampton without Grimes and Fulton.

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In the ‘never a dull moment’ world that is our football club it’s been a traumatic summer even by our standards. The head coach and his coaching team are gone and also eight players are gone, ninth one pending (Grimes).
Four players have been brought in, Piroe, Walsh and Joseph and today free transfer winger, 29 year old Jamie Paterson has joined after being released by Bristol City (yes the third Robins player shown the door and crossed the bridge to come to us, are we a retirement home for Bristol City rejects?)

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We’ve had a bid of £550,000 accepted by League One Ipswich for their 22 year old midfielder Flynn Downes and he is set for a medical.
Also Man United’s 20 year old right-back Ethan Laird is reported to be coming on a season long loan, and he is also lined up for a medical.
A recognised striker and a ball playing centre-back are still needed though.

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He’s officially ours -

https://www.swanseacity.com/news/flynn-downes-i-faced-russell-martin-side-and-knew-i-wanted-play-him

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Can’t say I’m impressed by the transfer work done yesterday, except for Rhys Williams. Roberts will be a big loss and went at a bargain fee.
Kyle Joseph should have stayed, they’d only just bought him. He came for Championship football and they farm him out to League One.

Out -
Jamal Lowe (to Bournemouth for £1.5mill)
Connor Roberts (to Burnley for £2.5mill)
Ollie Cooper (to Newport on loan)
Kyle Joseph (to Cheltenham on loan)
Wayne Routledge (retired)

In -
Michael Obafemi (£1.5mill-Southampton)
Olivier Ntcham (free agent released by Celtic)
Rhys Williams (loan from Liverpool)

[Estoban]

Well Grimes is still here, Fulham wouldn’t cough up the asking price, offering a paltry £2.5m.
Why would he go there and sit on the bench when he can be the main player here.
This pattern of players running down their contract has to stop, the club is losing millions.
Roberts and Grimes refused to sign a new contract, the result is the club do not get their true value.
At the end of the season Grimes can walk away for nothing and poop on the club that gave him his chance at a higher level.

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What I can’t figure out is getting rid of 14 goals last season Lowe for £1.5 mill and buying Obafemi for £1.5mill, who’s scored 4 goals in 4 seasons?
That’s our top scorer Ayew gone and our second top scorer gone for a combined total of £1.5 mill.
This is crazy, do they know what they’re doing?