Swansea City: Garry Monk dismisses West Ham link

Sam Allardyce (R) has been in charge of West Ham United since 2011

Swansea City manager Garry Monk has distanced himself from reports linking him to West Ham.

Monk has been touted as a potential successor to current Hammers boss Sam Allardyce, whose contract expires at the end of the season.

In his first full term in charge of Swansea, Monk has led the club to a record-equalling 47 Premier League points with six games left.

"West Ham have a fantastic manager in place," said Monk.

"For them to be looking elsewhere - if they are - I think they've already got the manager there who's had a fantastic season.

"I look at that type of speculation as a compliment to the way myself and the team have worked this season, showing we're progressing and going in the right direction."

Monk succeeded Michael Laudrup as Swansea's manager in February 2014, and his impressive first full campaign at the helm has reportedly attracted interest from other clubs.

West Ham enjoyed an excellent start to the season and, although they are still comfortably positioned in ninth place, their manager Allardyce has yet to agree a new contract with the club.

Swansea's rise to eighth place in the Premier League table has also seen them linked to some high-profile players.

Marseille and Ghana forward Andre Ayew and Schalke left-back Christian Fuchs have been linked to the Welsh club.

Swansea City have been linked to Schalke full-back and Austria captain Christian Fuchs

Both players are out of contract and, although Monk has highlighted striker and left-back as two areas of his team he would like to strengthen, the Swans boss would not be drawn on speculation regarding the pair.

"We're constantly getting linked - you could probably name 20, 30, 40 players that we're supposedly linked to," said Monk.

"We reflect on the history and where we've been in recent seasons and, to have our name thrown into the hat among other big names in world football, it's a massive progression.

"We're talking to the recruitment side of it [the club] and analysing players, of course we are. At this moment in time, that speculation will come but it's not where I'm at."