Swansea striker Vipotnik out to reach 'next level'

Zan Vipotnik has won 17 caps for Slovenia, scoring two goals

Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik hopes to reach the "next level" in his second season at the club.

The Slovenia international joined the Swans last summer following the mutual termination of his contract with Bordeaux, who had been blighted by significant financial issues.

He has endured a mixed first campaign at the Swansea.com Stadium but took his goal tally for the season to seven with the match winner against Hull City last time out.

And the 23-year-old admits he has taken time to adapt to the physical nature of the Championship.

"It's a tough league but I'm happy with my number [of goals]. I know it can be more if I put more focus in some games," he said.

"The league is really tough, the defenders are huge and I've learned a lot.

"I hope that I can show a lot more and I hope that I will get in good shape for next season.

"Before I was not like now because the defenders here play on the body, they like the contact. I'll adapt to this and I hope that I'll be on the next level next season."

Vipotnik has featured in all 10 matches since Alan Sheehan was named as caretaker boss following the departure of Luke Williams in February, scoring three times.

In addition to his goal from the spot against Hull, the forward also scored in the 3-0 win against Blackburn Rovers in addition to netting a dramatic equaliser in added time to earn Swansea a 2-2 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road.

And Vipotnik says he has enjoyed the "freedom" of playing under Irishman Sheehan, adding that he is hoping to add more goals to his game over the remainder of the 2024-25 run-in.

"He's given me the freedom that I can play everywhere when I feel the situation," added the frontman.

"I feel comfortable under him and I hope that I'll score more goals until the end of the season.

"He gives us the energy to work for each other, I hope that we will continue this."

Having flirted with relegation following a woeful start to 2025, Swansea have claimed 20 of the 30 points on offer since Sheehan was appointed interim boss for a second time.

It means only Burnley and Bristol City have gained more points than Swansea since Sheehan took charge.

They have also kept clean sheets in seven of the 10 games since Williams' exit, with the shutout against Hull ensuring Swansea have won four successive league matches without conceding for the first time since 2008.

And Vipotnik hopes Swansea - who now sit 11th in the table - can build on their strong finish to his first campaign in south Wales.

"We will see about transfers and everything but at the moment we're a really good team," he added.

"We can compete with everyone like we showed against Leeds, Sunderland and Hull. If we play like this we can do good things."