Swansea close in on defender and winger signings

Luke Williams led Swansea to a 14th-place finish in the Championship last season after taking charge in January

Swansea City are being heavily linked with Nelson Abbey and Florian Bianchini after Luke Williams revealed the club will sign a centre-back and a winger before Sunday’s south Wales derby against Cardiff City.

Defender Abbey, who is likely to join on a season-long loan, will provide much-needed competition for current first-choice pairing Ben Cabango and Harry Darling.

Reports in France suggest Bianchini, who plays for French second-tier club Bastia, is the wide player Swansea are targeting. The 23-year-old Frenchman could join on a permanent deal.

“There are a couple of players who will be joining us very shortly - we have an attacking player and a defending player,” said head coach Williams.

“We are just making sure that medicals go well but we are at that stage, so that’s good news.

“We are still not finished in our recruitment, but this will be a big step forward to giving us more cover and making us more competitive.”

England Under-20 international centre-back Abbey left Reading to join Olympiakos for an undisclosed fee in January, when the Royals needed funds due to their financial problems.

Abbey made four appearances for Olympiakos in the second half of last season and was an unused substitute as the Europa Conference League holders began the new Greek Super League season last weekend.

Bianchini - who predominantly plays as a winger but can also operate as a striker - featured 28 times in Ligue 2 last season, scoring five goals and registering six assists.

He would give Williams a welcome option on the flanks, and could allow Swansea to deploy Eom Ji-Sung in a more central attacking role.

Williams says the two new faces could “potentially” feature against Cardiff at the Swansea.com Stadium, though it seems unlikely either player will start.

Swansea have been desperate to strengthen their squad having brought in only four new faces - and said goodbye to 13 senior players – so far in the summer transfer window.

Attacking midfielder Eom, goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux, central midfielder Goncalo Franco and striker Jan Vipotnik are the four signings to date.

Williams, whose side followed up opening-day defeat at Middlesbrough with a comfortable home win over Preston last weekend, expects more signings to follow after the Cardiff game.

He wants to add another attacking option to his squad, while Swansea are also in the market for a senior goalkeeper after Andy Fisher underwent groin surgery.

After what has been a frustrating transfer window, Williams feels more content with the shape of the squad with further additions now close.

“I am always happy because I am head coach of Swansea,” he said.

“But certainly I know that the season is long and tough and we need more bodies. We are now going to introduce two more players that have more experience and that can only be good.”