It’s already been a busy summer of transfer dealing for Swansea City with Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bafetimbi Gomis among those joining up with the squad ahead of the 2014-15 campaign. However, with Michel Vorm and Ben Davies having left the club, there is a need for further reinforcements, particularly with the news that Leon Britton and Marvin Emnes will miss the start of the season through injury.
But who will Garry Monk target? Here are five possible new arrivals for the manager to consider.
- Carl Jenkison
Monk was very non-committal when asked about the reported interest in Arsenal right back Jenkinson at the weekend, claiming that Swansea had been linked with ‘every player under the sun’. The 22 year old has been at Arsenal since 2011 but has spent the majority of that time deputising for Bacary Sagna.
With Mathieu Debuchy arriving from Newcastle, Jenkinson’s opportunities remain limited and now may be the time to move on and get the game time he needs to build on a solitary England cap. The Swans are among several teams linked with the defender although Arsenal may only be prepared to send him out on loan.
- Kyle Naughton
Swansea are available at 3.20 with Betfair for a top ten finish at the end of this campaign but Monk will need to address the defence if we are to enjoy a more comfortable season. If the Jenkinson link is a false one, the manager could turn his attention to Spurs defender Naughton and according to the Daily Mail, an official bid is already in.
Naughton is an attacking full back who covered extensively for Kyle Walker at the end of last season but with the latter returning to fitness, his understudy will doubtless be frustrated at having to revert back to the bench.
- Guillermo Ochoa
Monk may decide to give Gerhard Tremmel and Lukasz Fabianski the chance to battle for the number one jersey but if the manager needs back up, there is a top class option available on a ‘free’.
Mexico’s Ochoa produced the save of the World Cup in his country’s group game with Mexico and the 29 year old was instrumental as his side progressed to the knockouts. Released by Ajaccio earlier this year, all that considerable talent is currently on offer with no fee required.
- Jordan Rhodes
Premier League sides seem far more reluctant to offer Championship strikers a chance at the top level these days and it’s certainly surprising that no-one has so far taken a gamble on Blackburn’s Rhodes.
The 24 year old averages comfortably more than a goal every other game during his time at Ewood Park and at Huddersfield where he made his name and that’s a record worth considering for any club. Rhodes has found the net just three times in 11 full Scottish internationals and that may be a better indication of how he would fare against higher quality opposition but as back up or even as a replacement for Wilfried Bony, Swansea will be linked with far worse players this summer.
- Lewis Holtby
Lewis Holtby could be the next player to leave White Hart Lane and now that the trade route between Swansea and Spurs is fully open, the manager could be taking a close look at the German.
2013-14 was a difficult campaign for the 23 year old, beginning with injury and ending with an unproductive loan spell at Fulham. However, Holtby has started pre-season in good form for his current club but could still be surplus to requirements in a very crowded midfield.