Swansea piecing together transfer 'puzzle'

Oli McBurnie joined Swansea from Bradford City as a teenager in 2015 before moving to Sheffield United in 2019

Director of football Richard Montague says Swansea City are piecing together a transfer "puzzle" in their bid to strengthen for next season.

Swansea have already agreed deals for winger Zeidane Inoussa and teenage striker Bobby Wales, while defender Ricardo Santos has signed on a free and January recruit Melker Widell will arrive in pre-season.

But there is plenty more work to do, with a left-sided centre-back and a defensive midfielder understood to be the club's leading priorities as things stand.

They are also looking at attacking options – including Oli McBurnie – and remain interested in re-signing Lewis O'Brien.

There may also be further defensive additions depending on which players depart this summer, with Harry Darling's future still uncertain.

Montague says Swansea have discussed a string of potential deals – and is "very confident" Alan Sheehan's new-look squad will be stronger than the one which finished last season.

A move for Swansea old boy McBurnie, who is available on a free transfer following Las Palmas' relegation from La Liga, would be an eye-catching one, though much is likely to depend on whether fellow forwards Jerry Yates and Mykola Kuharevich come back into the fold in 2025-26.

Asked about McBurnie, who scored 26 goals in 62 appearances in his previous spell at Swansea, Montague said: "I think everybody knows about Oli and his qualities and his situation as well.

"He is one we have spoken about and will be a name on various lists that we have. He is clearly a very, very good player, but I'd be unwilling to say whether that's progressing or has progressed any further.

"In theory a lot of things are conceivable, but it depends on where you are not going to spend money elsewhere.

"Not necessarily talking about Oli McBurnie, but it's all a puzzle where you say how much do we value a particular player, what can he add to us, and how much of our budget should we allocate to any player?"

Lewis O'Brien, who joined on loan following the sale of Matt Grimes, was a key figure in Swansea's encouraging end to last season

Montague says "all options are on the table" regarding Yates, who impressed during a loan spell at Derby last season but is under contract at Swansea for at least one more year.

"We need to have proper conversations with him and his agent to discuss what is the best way forward for him. Nothing is decided yet," Montague added.

The situation is similar with Kuharevich, who was on loan at Hibernian in 2024-25, while goalkeeper Andy Fisher and midfielders Cameron Congreve and Joel Cotterill are also due back in Wales after loan spells away.

O'Brien has gone in the opposite direction, returning to parent-club Nottingham Forest after thriving at Swansea having joined on loan in February.

The 26-year-old has expressed an interest in rejoining Swansea, but has a year to run on his contract at the City Ground.

Montague says there have been "good conversations with Forest" about the idea of O'Brien returning.

"They were really good to deal with last season. They sent us a really nice message to thank us for how well Lewis did with us, which was great to receive," he added.

"The ball is a little bit in their court at the moment because of Lewis' contract situation. He is on a Premier League salary and there needs to be some give in some sense to make it work for us. But it's definitely an option that's still on the table.

"We are talking to Lewis and having good conversations with Forest. We would love to be able to do something. It's just timing and matching it all up with the financial realities."

Swansea have been linked with a move for another midfielder, Lincoln City's Ethan Erhahon, and are thought to have tabled a bid earlier in the summer.

But Montague has indicated Swansea will not be signing the 24-year-old, saying: "We have talked about so many players and quite a lot have got to the point where we have spoken to agents or clubs. There isn't anything concrete in that one."

No interest in Franco yet - and no news on Fulton

Goncalo Franco has thrived since joining Swansea from Moreirense last summer

Montague, meanwhile, says there has been no interest in player-of-the-year Goncalo Franco so far this summer.

Franco has been touted as a potential target for clubs in Europe on the back of a fine first season in Wales, but Montague said: "There is so much noise around this time of the year, which is understandable because people need things to write about.

"But until we have anything concrete, there is nothing for me to say about it. He has obviously had a brilliant season and we would love to keep him here, so let's hope that's what happens."

Jay Fulton is another Swansea player who has been linked with a summer exit, with Plymouth Argyle mentioned as potential suitors for the long-serving Scot.

But Montague has suggested Sheehan's squad needs the experience of Fulton following the summer departures of old heads like Joe Allen, Kyle Naughton and Cyrus Christie.

"Jay did unbelievably well for us when he came into the team at the back end of the season - he gave us some great minutes and is an unbelievable character," he said.

"He is a senior player, which is probably lacking a bit in that age profile now with some of the key departures we had. He is an important player for us and there is no news about any offers or movement with Jay."