Swansea City

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The Swans are one of a long list of clubs linked with Sturm Graz right-back Max Johnston in Friday's gossip.

The 20-year-old Scotland Under-21international is also said to be interesting fellow Championship sides Stoke City and Oxford United, as well as other clubs across Europe.

Johnston joined Austrian champions Graz in a four-year deal last summer from Motherwell, who received a compensation fee of around £300,000.

The defender played 29 games last season, helping his side to win a league and cup double, and earned his first call-up to a senior Scotland camp.

Johnston, who has represented Scotland at Under-16, Under-19 and Under-21 levels, is yet to win a senior cap.

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Swansea City will again be at home against lower league opposition in this season's Carabao Cup, drawn against Wycombe Wanderers in round two.

The Swans will host the the League One side in the week commencing 26 August.

The Swans came through round one with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Gillingham of League Two.

The second round tie will be the second Welsh team Wycombe have faced this season, after losing their opening league fixture, 3-2, to Wrexham.

The Chairboys include two Wales internationals in their side in defender Joe Low and forward Sam Vokes.

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Ronald has been compared to Swansea greats Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge by head coach Luke Williams.

The Brazilian's goal scoring performance in the EFL Cup victory against Gillingham drew comparisons from Williams with the two former top flight wingers, who played the majority of Swansea's seven season tenure in the Premier League.

Williams hopes Ronald can continue that level of performance in the Championship this season.

"It's really enjoyable to see that," said Williams.

"That's something I'm desperate to bring to Swansea.

"When we think about Wayne [Routledge] and Nathan [Dyer] playing in a really top Swansea side, they were so exciting to watch. I loved those players.

"They're the ones that captivate people and make you really enjoy the experience. They need a team around them but Ronald gave me that feeling of really exciting wide play and the goal was brilliant. I enjoyed his performance.

"All those lovely things that terrify fullbacks and excite fans and he’s done that and caused a huge problem for the opposition, then he scored a brilliant goal".

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Nathan Tjoe-A-On remains "unaffected" by his huge social media following, according to Swansea City head coach Luke Williams.

The Indonesia defender has more than 2m followers on Instagram, with most located in the South East Asia country.

Tjoe-A-On, 22, made his Swansea debut during the EFL Cup first-round win over Gillingham on Tuesday.

"I don't have any complaints with his performance and he's been training really well with the first team," said Williams.

"He has a way to go to be a proven Championship player and he's a really good, hard-working guy.

"He has a huge following and so I'm sure there's going to be a lot of people happy to to have seen him play.

"I think he has got a good mentality and he doesn't allow the huge social media following that he has affect him.

"So I'm impressed by that, to be honest".

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Swansea City head coach Luke Williams has expressed his disappointment at not being able to sign striker Tyrese Campbell.

Despite Swansea's interest in the player, the 24-year-old signed a three-year contract at Championship rivals Sheffield United.

Campbell was a free agent, having been released by Stoke City earlier this summer and held talks with Williams over a possible move.

"I think it was realistic and disappointing because he's a really good player but, of course, to lose out to a big club in the division is understandable," said Williams.

"A talented player has a lot of options and if a club is able to convince the player that his best option is them, if it is Sheffield United, you can understand that.

"It's a shame because he's a really good player and a good guy. I did talk to him. I really enjoyed talking to him about football but we have to move on to a new target".

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Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts says Swansea City’s squad “obviously needs strengthening” before the transfer window closes.

Swansea go in search of a first win of the new season when they host Gillingham in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, having lost their opening Championship fixture at Middlesbrough last weekend.

The Swans’ bench at Boro featured a number of youngsters and fringe players, with a handful of early-season injuries not helping the club’s cause.

But after a summer transfer window in which 13 senior players have departed – as well as youngsters Cameron Congreve and Joel Cotterill – while only four have arrived, Swansea’s squad looks short in a number of areas.

“I think Luke Williams will be a frustrated man at the minute because as a head coach, you want to get your players through the door,” Roberts told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

“You want them to have a full pre-season if that’s possible.

“Obviously it’s not possible at times but as he has said, he needs at least four, five more new faces to come in because the squad is a bit thin.”

Swansea had plenty of possession at Boro but failed to register a shot on target as they were beaten 1-0.

“Swansea were the better side in the second half but they couldn’t create that opportunity to equalise,” Roberts added.

“They have lost their two top scorers last season – Jamal Lowe and Jerry Yates, who they have sent on loan to Derby.

“The squad obviously needs strengthening.”

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Swansea City goalkeeper Andy Fisher looks set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a groin problem.

Fisher picked up the injury when striking the ball during the pre-season friendly against FC Koln last month.

There had been uncertainty over Fisher would need an operation – but the 26-year-old has now shared an image of him in a hospital bed on social media.

Fisher has not played a league game since May 2023 having been understudy to Carl Rushworth at Swansea last season.

He had seemed set to start the 2024-25 campaign as deputy to summer signing Lawrence Vigouroux.

With Fisher sidelined, Swansea must decide if former AFC Wimbledon youngster Nathan Broome can serve as a back-up to Vigouroux, or whether they will look to recruit a more experienced keeper.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Luke Williams has suggested he will make changes for Swansea City’s EFL Cup first-round tie against Gillingham on Tuesday.

Nothing unusual there.

At this stage of the EFL Cup, after all, it is something of a surprise if a manager does not make significant alterations to his last league XI.

The issue for Williams is that at Swansea right now, the scope for change is minimal.

Resting Lawrence Vigouroux would mean a Swansea debut for 22-year-old Nathan Broome, who played a handful of games for AFC Wimbledon before moving to Wales in 2023.

Should Williams want to make changes in defence, veteran Kyle Naughton could be an option as could youngster Filip Lissah – though his involvement with the under-21s on Monday would suggest a start is unlikely.

He might also call on Kristian Pedersen and Nathan Tjoe-A-On (above), two players whose Swansea futures appeared uncertain when they were sent out on loan last January, or 18-year-old Dan Watts.

Watts, like Tjoe-A-On, is yet to make his senior Swansea debut.

In midfield, it is hard to see how Williams can freshen things up given that Joe Allen is injured, though Ollie Cooper is likely to start.

Options are equally thin in forward areas, with the likes of Aimar Govea, Sam Parker and Josh Ginnelly sidelined by injury.

Williams may be keen to give striker Zan Vipotnik his first start in a Swansea shirt – though that decision will depend on the Slovenian’s fitness, plus the head coach’s plan for Preston North End’s visit in the Championship this Saturday.

In short, Williams is short of options, which is hardly surprising given that 13 senior players have left this summer while only four new faces have arrived.

It is a tale which threatens to become the story of Swansea’s season, unless they get to work in the transfer market in the next couple of weeks.

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We already have the Championship's first managerial departure of the season - after just one game.

Preston North End say Ryan Lowe has left "by mutual consent" following their opening 2-0 defeat by Sheffield United on Friday night.

Preston visit Swansea City for their second game of the campaign this Saturday, and they'll have a familiar face in the dugout.

Mike Marsh, who was part of the Swans' staff under former boss Steve Cooper, will be in charge at the Swansea.com Stadium, with ex-Wales striker Ched Evans alongside him.

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Boss Luke Williams says Swansea City need to "pay the fans back" in two home games this week as he prepares to make changes to his team following Saturday's disappointing opening-day defeat at Middlesbrough.

Swansea host League Two side Gillingham in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night before Preston visit the Swansea.com Stadium in the Championship next Saturday.

Williams says he will utilise his squad for Gillingham's visit, but not make so many changes that the Swans risk an embarrassing first-round defeat.

"I'm looking to win the game, we'll be putting out a team that can do that," he said.

"There might be changes because imagine you play a three-game week and you don't use your squad at all - you're probably asking for trouble.

"But at the same time, we're not putting out a team you wouldn't recognise and you don't know anyone's name. We're putting out a team that can win the game."

Williams says it is "possible" some of his injured players could be back for Gillingham, but it is probably "too early" for midfielder Joe Allen.

Wingers Aimar Govea, Sam Parker and Josh Ginnelly and goalkeeper Andy Fisher also missed the Middlesbrough trip due to injury or fitness issues.

Williams says the squad are determined to make up for their defeat at the Riverside, where Boro's first-half penalty was enough to give them the win after Isaiah Jones was tripped by Azeem Abdulai.

Swansea had plenty of possession but did precious little with it until a late flurry of chances which ultimately came to nothing.

It was a disappointing outcome for those Swans fans who had got up in the early hours of Saturday morning to make the 660-mile round trip to Teesside.

"We can't wait to get back home to play at the Swansea.com," Williams said.

"The journey the fans made was incredible - we love them for that - so we need to put on a good show.

"They've missed their football. They're desperate to see us perform well and score goals and excite them.

"So we have to try to pay them back for their loyalty towards us."

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Swansea City’s search for wingers could see them move for Liverpool youngster Kaide Gordon.

Swansea boss Luke Williams wants to sign two wide players before the transfer window closes later this month.

There are suggestions that 19-year-old Gordon is a loan target for Swansea – though it appears any deal is still some way off being finalised.

Gordon featured three times for Liverpool last season and has made seven first-team appearances in all, scoring once.

The former Derby County youngster’s time at Anfield has been disrupted by a pelvic injury which saw him sidelined for a year, but he has featured for the Reds in pre-season under new boss Arne Slot.

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Swansea City target Tyrese Campbell has signed for Sheffield United.

Campbell, 24, was a free agent having been released by Stoke City at the end of last season.

Swansea head coach Luke Williams held talks with the striker, who has been linked with a number of clubs this summer.

At one stage it seemed that despite their limited budget, the Swans were serious contenders to sign Campbell.

The chances of a deal coming to fruition faded when Swansea brought in Zan Vipotnik, although Williams did not give up hope of landing Campbell as well as the Slovenia international forward.

But Swansea’s bid to land a player with proven Championship pedigree is over after Campbell signed a three-year deal at Bramall Lane.

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Swansea City fans will hope to see more of Ronald after the Brazilian winger gave a reminder of his qualities with a lively substitute appearance during Saturday's opening defeat at Middlesbrough.

Having been a doubt for the game with a hamstring issue, the 23-year-old was kept on the bench until he was introduced as a half-time substitute.

Ronald offered Swansea some much-needed attacking threat out wide, looking dangerous whenever he received the ball on the left and ran at his opponents.

“I think he made a huge difference. You could see the level, how Ronald lifted us, he looked such a big threat," Swans head coach Luke Williams told BBC Radio Wales after the game.

“He’s so calm and composed and he can make explosive actions as well.

“We know how good Ronald is and one of the reasons he didn’t start is because of that. We were worried about him playing from the beginning because he did pick up something in the week.

“But we threw caution to the wind and brought him on early, and he definitely impacted us in a positive way.”

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Head coach Luke Williams was encouraged by the Swansea City players who made their debuts during the 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on the opening weekend of the Championship season.

Goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux, forward Eom Ji-sung and midfielder Goncalo Franco all started at the Riverside, while striker Zan Vipotnik came on as a second-half substitute.

Here is what Williams had to say about his starting debutants in an interview with BBC Radio Wales.

Vigouroux: “Good distribution, made a couple of key saves, didn’t have a chance for the penalty because it was incredible. Really happy with Lawrence."

Eom: “I think the fact he got cramp at the end of the game probably is an indicator that it’s been an eye-opening experience for him.

"He’s never played anywhere near this Championship intensity and this type of atmosphere.

“But he showed some real quality. He’s got a long way to go and he’ll improve through the season, no doubt.”

Franco: “He’s a tough character. He’s played top-flight football and I think you could see he can handle himself, handle the ball.

“It was a tough game for him but no complaints about Goncalo from me.”

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Azeem Abdulai had a first league start to forget on Saturday as he conceded the penalty which led to Swansea City losing their opening Championship game of the season at Middlesbrough.

The 21-year-old winger tripped Boro's Isaiah Jones in the first half, with Emmanuel Latte Lath converting the subsequent spot-kick to score the game's only goal.

Abdulai, who was making only the 12th senior appearance of his career, was then replaced at half-time by Ronald.

“The players have been told repeatedly, over and over, don’t tackle in the box," Swansea head coach Luke Williams told BBC Radio Wales after the match.

“If you’re a good attacking player with good instincts, as soon as a leg is thrown, you make sure it contacts you and you go over.

“You cannot tackle like that in the box but he’s a player without a huge amount of experience and I’m pleased he got to play today.

“It’s a mistake that cost us. We’re well beaten anyway because of the chances they created throughout the game but of course that changes the flow drastically.”

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Luke Williams must decide whether Ronald is fit to feature at Middlesbrough with the Swansea City boss short of wide players for Saturday’s opening game of the Championship season.

Brazilian winger Ronald has been nursing a hamstring problem during pre-season but has played some part in full training this week.

Swansea have limited options out wide anyway, with Williams keen to sign two wingers before the transfer window closes.

If Ronald does not make it, utility man Azeem Abdulai will be favourite to start on the flank at the Riverside having done so in Swansea’s final pre-season friendly.

Two young wingers, Aimar Govea and Sam Parker, are injured.

Joe Allen and goalkeeper Andy Fisher will definitely miss the Boro trip due to fitness issues.

Williams is expecting a stern test against Michael Carrick’s side, who made Manchester City youngster Micah Hamilton their fourth signing of the summer on the eve of Swansea’s visit to Teesside.

“They have a really good coaching staff and a brilliant manager,” Williams said.

“They are going to be tough opposition, there’s no doubt about that. We have to make sure we are ready and we can assess afterwards how we have done.”

Ethan Latham
BBC Sport Wales

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Swansea City captain Matt Grimes insists a "good start" is needed if the Swans are to better last season's 14th-place finish.

The midfielder added the third and final goal as Swansea eased to a convincing win over Portuguese side Rio Ave in their final pre-season friendly.

The Swans begin their Championship campaign away at Middlesbrough on Saturday, chasing a first opening day victory in four years.

"The game is a good test to see where we’re at and it’s one we’re really looking forward to, they’ll certainly be play-off contenders this season," said Grimes.

"I think we need to focus on having a good start. Last season our start wasn’t good enough, it made things much more difficult throughout the season. It was difficult to get real momentum.

"We’ve already had from January until the summer under this manager [Luke Williams], now we’ve had a full pre-season to be conditioned in the way he wants us to be.

"As far as everything is concerned from a football side, it’s been spot on. We now need to start well."

Grimes also praised Swansea City's new recruits and the way they have settled in at the club.

"They’ve been brilliant since arriving, getting up to speed and getting in tune with how the manager wants to play," said Grimes.

"Their English is really good and just through repetition the manager can get his message across the way he wants.

"That’s also been down to us to help and show it the way he wants, I think that’s what we’ve done so far, every player that’s come in has added to the group.

"The squad’s in a good place and we're ready to go."

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Jobi McAnuff reckons Swansea City will be a “great watch” this season but fears Luke Williams’ side may be held back by a lack of squad depth.

Head coach Williams is targeting an improvement on the struggles of the last campaign, when Swansea had relegation concerns before pulling clear of the bottom three in the spring.

But the Swans are going into the new Championship season with a much thinner squad, having said farewell to 13 senior players over the summer and brought in only four to date.

“I think over a long, hard season that is definitely something to be mindful of,” said EFL pundit McAnuff.

“Luke Williams is probably looking at quality over quantity - players that can come in and really have an impact in terms of the way he wants to play.

“Is there a financial aspect to that? Yes, I'm sure there is with the way the club's being run at the moment.

“What you don't want to do is leave your manager short in terms of being able to really go out and implement what he wants to do. So that will be a question mark for me.”

McAnuff describes Swansea as “a club in transition” following the turbulence of last season.

Michael Duff was named head coach in the summer of 2023 only to be sacked in December.

Alan Sheehan then took caretaker charge for seven games before Williams arrived in January.

“I think the time Luke Williams had last year will be really important,” McAnuff said.

“I think when he started he spoke about that [Swansea] identity, but when you don’t have your players, it's very hard. I don't think it's the full Luke Williams show yet.

“But the recruitment that's gone on, it'll be players that he feels can come in and really add to that way of playing.”

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One of Swansea’s new faces, goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux, played with McAnuff at Leyton Orient.

McAnuff, who also played for the likes of Watford, Crysal Palace and Reading, says Vigouroux is an ideal number one for Swansea given the club’s philosophy.

“When it comes to distribution - and that's obviously really important with the way Luke wants to play - he is as good as anyone I've played with at any level,” McAnuff added.

“In terms of handling the ball, he is very, very capable and that's such an important part of what Luke Williams wants to do.

“Having seen what his teams have done previously, I feel Swansea will be a great watch.

“My concern for them, and any of his teams, is that they can be a little bit open at times, particularly on transitions. They do leave gaps if they lose the ball and that would probably be my reservation if you are talking about them really pushing on this year, but I do think there'll be improvement.”

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Swansea City’s recruitment work this summer may not be restricted to players.

The Championship club could also be in the market for an interpreter or two, to ensure head coach Luke Williams can get his message across to his new-look squad.

Swansea used a Portuguese speaker to help Ronald understand what was required of him after the Brazilian winger’s move to Wales last January.

The Swans have since added Portuguese midfielder Goncalo Franco to their squad, as well as Slovenian striker Zan Vipotnik and South Korean attacking midfielder Eom Ji-Sung.

While the new recruits can understand some English, Williams says “a lot of body language” has been used on the training ground during pre-season.

“We are getting the message across - Google translate is a hell of a tool,” he said with a smile.

“Josh Key speaks a bit of Korean - he is incredible.

“Ronald is happy because he has a Portuguese-speaking team-mate, so he and Goncalo are helping each other a lot.”

Swansea’s other summer signing, Lawrence Vigouroux, has represented Chile internationally.

The goalkeeper was born and raised in London but, according to Williams, “speaks four languages really badly”.

“I have worked with Lawrence before and we nicknamed him ‘the glue’ because he can go into the dining room and sit with any person and whoever he is sitting with will end up laughing,” Williams said.

“It might be people you have never seen laugh who are throwing their head back. Then the next day he is sitting with a different person and they are laughing.

“Lawrence can communicate with pretty much everyone in the world, whether it’s speaking the language or just joking.

“But we are thinking to bring some help in as well, with some translators.”

Vigouroux will start in goal at Middlesbrough on Saturday, with Eom and Franco also expected to make full debuts.

Striker Vipotnik is tipped to start on the bench having only arrived in Wales this week.

Swansea City Women have signed 16-year-old forward Aimee Deacon.

Deacon made her Adran Premier debut for Barry Town United Women last season when aged just 15, but left the club at the end of 2023-24.

“Aimee is a young player who has already got a season of experience and game time at this level under her belt, which is an excellent achievement,” said Swansea manager Jamie Sherwood.

Deacon has family at Swansea City, with her brother Callum part of the Championship club's under-18 squad.