South West Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Luke Williams says Swansea City have January transfer targets in mind as they look to build on a promising start to the season.

Williams has challenged his players to push for a Championship play-off place in 2024-25 after successive league wins lifted them to ninth in the table.

Swansea's head coach is working with a relatively thin squad – and says the club are looking at the possibility of trying to strengthen in the mid-season window.

"We’ve got some players who potentially would be a good fit for us and we will continue to monitor them as they play games and try to get a really good grasp on whether we think those players are the ideal ones for us," Williams said.

"That work has begun already."

Williams says that while performances leading into January will have an impact on transfer plans, there are some areas where Swansea need greater options.

"Some of the scenarios don’t change whatever is going on because there potentially are gaps in the depth of the squad," he added.

"I think we have a good idea of what’s out there and which players we can realistically sign, so that’s good."

It remains to be seen whether a probable change of ownership at Swansea will lead to any change of approach when it comes to transfer policy.

Last summer, the Championship club focused primarily on recruiting young players with the potential to develop in cheaper overseas markets, though they did bring in experienced defender Cyrus Christie earlier this month.

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Matty James says he jumped at the chance to join Wrexham after admitting he was desperate to return to football.

James, 33, had been without a club after being released by Championship Bristol City in the summer but joined Phil Parkinson's side on a short-term deal until January last month.

The former Manchester United and Leicester City midfielder confirmed he held talks with the north Wales club following his departure from Ashton Gate, and says he is now relishing to be a part of the Wrexham project.

"It came out of the blue really," he said of his move to the Stok Racecourse.

"We had a conversation in the summer and it didn't quite happen. I had one or two other little bits that then didn't happen after that.

"I just received a phone call asking if I'd come in and train and I jumped at the opportunity because of where I was at in my own situation.

"I was desperate to be involved in football again, and with it being Wrexham and where the club is, the ambition, anybody would jump at that opportunity.

"Everybody knows where the club is and where it's going and what it wants to achieve.

"I think there'll be numerous players out there that would want to be playing for Wrexham, in terms of players who are playing for other clubs now I'm guessing. I'm just really happy to be part of it."

James featured 43 times in all competitions for Bristol City during the 2023-24 season, scoring three goals.

The midfielder was an unused substitute for Wrexham's matches at Charlton Athletic and Harrogate Town.