Swansea City

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There were mixed fortunes for Swansea City's contingent of international players during the last break of 2024, with Liam Cullen leading the way on his memorable night for Wales.

Cullen made a breakthrough with Wales as he scored his first goals for his country in Tuesday's Nations League triumph over Iceland.

Cullen also played 18 minutes as a substitute in last Saturday's draw in Turkey, where club-mates Ben Cabango and Joe Allen were unused substitutes.

But Cabango played the full 90 minutes in midweek, partnering Joe Rodon – who he could be marking when Swansea host Leeds United on Sunday – in the centre of Craig Bellamy's defence.

And veteran midfielder Allen made his second Wales appearance since coming out of international retirement, playing the final 25 minutes of the Iceland triumph.

Swansea striker Zan Vipotnik has been busy with Slovenia, playing 72 minutes in their 4-1 home defeat to Norway – for whom Erling Haaland scored twice - last Thursday before clocking up another 91 minutes in a 1-1 draw in Austria on Sunday.

The Austria result meant Slovenia finished third in Nations League Group B3.

Lawrence Vigouroux was once again left kicking his heels on Cuba's bench as they drew 0-0 with Peru last weekend and then beat Venezuela 4-2 on Wednesday.

There was game-time for Nathan Tjoe-A-On, who played 76 minutes of Indonesia's 4-0 home loss to Japan before coming off the bench for the final 22 minutes as they beat Saudi Arabia 2-0.

Luca Muzzupappa
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, FAW

He has not scored for Swansea City for a while, but Liam Cullen may be feeling more confident than ever when Luke Williams' side host Leeds United on Sunday.

The 25-year-old returns to club duty after a memorable spell away with Wales.

Having come off the bench to win just his sixth cap in last Saturday's goalless draw in Turkey, Cullen started against Iceland on Tuesday night.

Playing in a role behind the centre-forward - as he has done for Swansea at times this season - Cullen scored his first two Wales goals as Craig Bellamy's team came back to win 4-1 and seal promotion to the top tier of the Nations League.

He was named player of the match against Iceland, having also claimed assists for second-half goals from Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson.

Cullen has made little impression on the international stage before this autumn, but everything has changed for the Pembrokeshire-born player under head coach Craig Bellamy.

"He’s been so good. He has so many good habits," Bellamy said.

"I said to him when came on the other day, ‘you do not fail to impress me’.

"He constantly impresses me every minute I see of him in training and even in the meetings. You know when you just see someone who’s staring at the screen listening to every word you’re saying? That’s him."

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The praise for Cullen did not end there, with former Wales striker Nathan Blake saying the Swansea academy product "has come of age".

"He looked brilliant in that number 10 role, he got lost a bit in the first half hour of the game but after that was excellent," Blake added.

Swansea team-mate Ben Cabango, who also started against Iceland, said: "he deserves it all because he's been working so hard. I'm buzzing for him."

Cullen is Swansea's top scorer this season with three goals, though he has not netted at club level since mid-September.

He could face international colleagues Joe Rodon, Dan James and Charlie Crew - and perhaps even goalkeeper Karl Darlow - as he looks to find the target once more this weekend.

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Swansea City Women eased into the quarter-finals of the Bute Energy Welsh Cup with a 3-0 win at Carmarthen Town Women in the second round.

The Adran Premier visitors were frustrated by a dogged Carmarthen defence until after the hour-mark, when Emily Richards unleashed a left-footed strike from long range that flew into the back of the net.

Carmarthen's goal led a charmed life in a frantic moment of action that saw Jess Williams’ initial header hit the post from a corner, with home goalkeeper Ffion Ashman blocking Aimee Deacon's follow-up before Robyn Pinder again hit the woodwork with the rebound.

But a minute later Sammy Wynne worked space on the right of the Carmarthen box to squeeze a shot into the bottom right corner, then turned provider for substitute Jasmine Guymer to claim a third goal late on.

Bute Energy Welsh Cup second round

North

Felinheli 0-10 Wrexham

Llandudno 0-6 The New Saints

NFA 0-8 Aberystwyth Town

South

Cardiff City 2-1 Cascade

Johnstown 0-3 Pontypridd United

Caldicot Town 2-2 Barry Town United (Barry win 4-2 pens)

Penydarren 1-11 Briton Ferry Llansawel

Carmarthen Town 0-3 Swansea City

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After eight years as majority owners of Swansea City, Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan are set to be bought out by fellow shareholders Andy Coleman, Nigel Morris and Brett Cravatt, along with another businessman, Jason Cohen.

Coleman, Swansea's chairman, says the change of ownership could initially see more than £20m brought into the Championship club.

He has also suggested the takeover will bring "significant opportunities" to Swansea as they look to compete for promotion to the Premier League.

We asked for your views about what impact the takeover might have – and here is what some of you said.

Steve: If most of that £20m goes on buying players then maybe good times ahead, but the club already operates at a loss. Maybe the transfer process will happen faster, but the contracts of both first-choice centre-backs need to be renewed as a priority.

Jacob: Since Kaplan and Levien took over, it has felt like they have been running the club into the ground. There has been no upward trajectory and some decision-making has been horrendous. A lot of our fanbase have disassociated themselves with the club because they don't recognise it anymore. Hopefully, Coleman and co can bring that spark back.

Robbie: Glad to see that the proposed takeover is imminent. This will hopefully bring additional funds into the club as we desperately need to strengthen our squad if we are ever going to challenge for one of the promotion slots. Time will undoubtedly tell but fingers crossed.

Mike: We urgently need at least two good, attacking, fear-free goal-scoring players.

Clare: Providing the takeover gets EFL approval, it’s exciting times at Swansea. We have our club back and I’m interested to see what the plans are. I would like someone with football experience to join [the new majority owners].

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Owen: Sensible and targeted investment is key. That means securing contract extensions for the most promising players emerging and those that have started to establish themselves over the past couple of seasons. In the short term it means identifying and recruiting an effective strikeforce - can’t properly judge Luke Williams' possession football without goals!

Andrew: Whilst I'm not anti-Andy Coleman, for me he does have a little way to go to make me believe this is any different than before. However, I am hopeful.

Richard: I certainly hope that better times are ahead for the Swans. We will have to see if this group of Americans are any better. They say there will be £20m put into the club. Will any of it be used to strengthen the squad?

Shropswan: Seven years of broken promises, diminished squad numbers, poor signings and too many managers have provided fans with unquantifiable experiences and expectations. The new owners will be judged purely on how they improve upon the quality and the level they achieve. They surely cannot do any worse.

Thomas: Let's hope this time [the takeover] will do some good for the Swansea fans

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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It would be a popular move among Swansea City fans should Connor Roberts come back to the club where he made his name.

Roberts, who turned 29 in September, has made it plain that he wants to wear a Swansea shirt again before his playing days come to an end.

So what chance is there of Roberts returning? The fact he is keen represents one major step towards making it happen.

Swansea would have to be keen on the idea too, of course.

Transfers can be very tricky to predict but, as things stand, a move for Roberts next summer would make a fair bit of sense.

The Wales right-back's Burnley contract expires at the end of the season, so there will be no transfer fee involved should he leave Turf Moor.

Swansea, meanwhile, could be in the market for a right-sided defender.

Josh Key has been a star of Luke Williams' team so far this season and, while Swansea will not want to lose the former Exeter City man, transfer interest in him will be inevitable should he maintain his current performance levels across this campaign.

Swansea's other right-sided defensive options at present are 32-year-old Cyrus Christie, who recently rejoined the club on a deal until the end of the season, and Kyle Naughton, who turns 36 this week and is another player whose contract will expire next June.

Having spent the last summer window chasing young, cheaper players with development potential, Swansea would be taking a different approach should they target Roberts in six months' time.

But then they would getting a high-quality Championship performer whose commitment to the club's cause would not be in question.

Should the return of Roberts materialise, therefore, it would not be shock.

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Lawrence Vigouroux says his national team, Chile, are watching every Swansea City game as he targets a first senior cap.

The Swans goalkeeper is in Chile's squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Peru on Saturday and Venezuela on Wednesday, 20 November.

He is hoping his impressive displays for Swansea this season may finally lead to a first senior cap at the age of 30.

"It depends what the manager wants," he said of his chances of pulling on the Chile shirt over the next week.

"I just have to keep doing what I'm doing here. Working on my distribution, making saves and trying to help the team with crosses.

"But first and foremost I play for Swansea so the first thing on my mind is how I can help the guys here."

Vigouroux has started all 15 of Swansea's Championship matches this season - plus their two EFL Cup ties - and says his Chile coaches are watching closely.

"The goalkeeper coach watches every game," he said.

"He will send me a debrief of what he thinks. It's good to have that.

"I am happy they watch and take an interest, but day to day I listen to the manager here and Marge (Martyn Margetson).

"They are the ones who allow me to play for this club."

Less than ideal for Swans head coach Luke Williams, though, is the fact Chile's game with Venezuela is so late in the international window.

It means Vigouroux probably will not be back in Swansea until Thursday, 21 November at the earliest, though he and his teammates do have an extra day to prepare with their next game at Leeds United put back to Sunday, 24 November.

Chairman Andy Coleman and head coach Luke Williams have both hailed the impending takeover of Swansea City as exciting news for the club.

Coleman, Brett Cravatt, Jason Cohen and Nigel Morris are set to buy the shares of majority owners Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan.

What do you think, Swans fans? Will a change of ownership bring "significant opportunities", as Coleman claims?

More details may be needed from Coleman on what opportunities he means exactly. And, indeed, how much money Coleman, Cravatt, Cohen and Morris have to invest - or are prepared to - long-term compared to Levien and Kaplan.

Coleman has suggested the deal could initially see more than £20m brought into the Championship club.

But what is your feeling on this? Do you think it will give the club a better chance of getting back to the Premier League? Will it lead to a "very exciting" future, as head coach Luke Williams hopes?

You can have your say by sending your views here, external.

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Swansea City may welcome having an extra day to prepare for their game against Leeds United as a number of players are away on international duty.

Luke Williams' side return to action after the international break with a mouthwatering home fixture against Daniel Farke's Leeds, with the match put back until Sunday, 24 November due to television coverage.

Even with Ollie Cooper out of action for three months, the Swans are well represented in Craig Bellamy's Wales squad, with Ben Cabango, Joe Allen and Liam Cullen all included for Nations League games in Turkey on Saturday and at home to Iceland next Tuesday.

Swansea striker Zan Vipotnik is in the Slovenia squad for Nations League games against Norway on Thursday and in Austria on Sunday, while goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux has made the long trip to South America.

He is with Chile for World Cup qualifiers against Peru in the early hours of Saturday morning and Venezuela on Wednesday, 20 November.

Nathan Tjoe-A-On is in the Indonesia squad for their home World Cup qualifying matches against Japan on Friday and Saudi Arabia next Tuesday.

Teenage winger Aimar Govea, who has been back in Williams' senior Swansea squad in recent weeks, has been called up to the Ecuador Under-20 squad.

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The second south Wales derby of the season has been moved to an earlier kick-off.

But the Cardiff City Stadium encounter does remain a Saturday showdown as Swansea City look to avoid a second successive defeat at the home of the Bluebirds.

The game between the two rivals has been selected in the latest round of television picks from the Championship, with the game taking place at 12.30 GMT on Saturday 18 January.

The Swans were beaten 2-0 on their last trip to Cardiff in September 2023 - only to rally after Luke Williams replaced Michael Duff and win the return tie at the Swansea.Com Stadium by the same scoreline in March 2024.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw in Swansea in August, then-Cardiff manager Erol Bulut being sent off during the game which secured the only point he picked up this season before being sacked the following month.

Both sides have seen three other games moved in the period that covers up to the end of February.

Swansea's game at Norwich City a week after the derby on Saturday, 25 January is also now a 12:30 GMT kick-off.

The Swans' game against Bristol City at Ashton Gate has been moved to a midday start Sunday, 9 February, meaning the home game with Sheffield Wednesday has been pushed back 24 hours to Wednesday 12 February (19:45 GMT).

Cardiff see their game at Millwall on Tuesday, 21 January moved to a 20:00 GMT kick-off, while their Severnside derby game has Bristol City travel to Cardiff City Stadium for a 12.30 GMT kick-off on Saturday, 15 February.

Finally, the Bluebirds game at Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle has also been brought forward to lunchtime, with the Saturday, 22 February fixture at Home Park now kicking-off at 12.30 GMT.

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Former Swansea midfielder Andy Robinson says he feels for Luke Williams’ side after claiming Burnley’s match-winning penalty at Turf Moor on Sunday was the result of a "terrible" refereeing decision.

Match official David Webb awarded the hosts a spot-kick when he adjudged Swans skipper Matt Grimes had handled the ball inside the area.

Jay Rodriguez converted from 12 yards to seal the 1-0 win for Scott Parker’s side, leaving Robinson devastated for Swansea’s players who he said had done enough to earn a point – despite lacking more of a goal threat.

"It's a sickener," Robinson said on BBC Radio Wales Sport. "I don’t mind the referee taking his time – and I’m seeing it on the monitor – but it’s never, ever a penalty."

Grimes did handle the ball with his arm raised as he went up for a header amid Burnley attackers, but then could do little when the ball was headed towards him at close-range from eventual goalscorer Rodriguez.

Robinson added: "He’s tried to pull his hands away, but there’s players around him. I can see why Matty Grimes is so aggrieved – and I also think it’s a foul on Harry Darling before that.

"It's a big call and he’s [the referee] got it wrong. I’ve been there as a player. It’s a bad decision, a terrible decision."

Robinson praised the dispatch of the spot kick in additional time, but said Swansea should take credit for matching the Clarets, who climbed to fourth in the Championship after the win.

"Both teams were getting into good positions and not delivering," he said. "We didn’t see clear-cut chances. There were some efforts, but not golden chances.

"Josh Key stood out, Joe Allen in his 60 minutes was fantastic, as was Ban Cabango.

"But for Swansea there were some really good performances, but just when they got into the final third, that’s when they lacked."

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Former Swansea City striker Bafetimbi Gomis has announced his retirement from football.

At the age of 39, the 12-cap France international confirmed on French television he has decided to hang up his boots.

And it means the end of one of the most striking goal celebrations.

Gomis would often imitate a panther stalking and clawing its prey when he found the back of the net during a two-year Premier League spell at Swansea.

Unfortunately for Swansea, it was only unleashed 17 times after arriving from Lyon amid much hope in 2014.

He did manage key goals in wins over Manchester United and Arsenal - twice each - in his time at the Liberty Stadium during Garry Monk's time in charge.

But he did not manage to emulate the success of the likes of Michu and Wilfried Bony before leaving on loan for Marseille in 2016 and then permanently to Galatasaray.

Gomis made his name at Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne and then Lyon, confirming his decision when appearing as a TV pundit during coverage of the two side's derby this weekend.

After time in the Saudi ProLeague, a second spell at Galatasaray and most recently with Kawasaki Frontale in Japan, Gomis left the J League club last month by mutual consent.

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Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Some might argue that Swansea City could not complain about the penalty which cost them a point at Burnley because Matt Grimes' arm was in an unnatural position when the ball hit his hand.

Then again, not many players compete for headers with their arms by their side, so where exactly a natural position would be is up for debate.

Wherever you stand in that particular argument, what was not in question was that Swansea were beaten in cruel fashion at Turf Moor.

Not only that, but Luke Williams and his players will have spent the long journey home feeling they had not got what they deserved.

Burnley boss Scott Parker was adamant his side were worthy winners, yet Swansea competed throughout with the Clarets and had big chances to seize control of a contest which was always in the balance.

"We tried to play on the front foot and we tried to win the game," Williams pointed out.

Not for the first time this season, Swansea could have done with more composure and quality in the final third.

Burnley had opportunities which went begging too, and it would be hard to argue that Swansea should have become the first side to beat Parker's team on their own ground this season.

But Williams' side carved out enough decent opportunities to get something on Sunday, regardless of Jay Rodriguez's last-gasp spot-kick.

Yet for the eighth time in 15 league games this season, Swansea failed to score.

Williams says he is not sure whether an impending change of ownership will have any impact on the club's transfer plans.

But if the takeover does mean extra money to play with in the transfer market, Williams will surely want it spent on strengthening his attack.

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The numbers suggest a goal rush is unlikely at Turf Moor on Sunday, when the side with the Championship's meanest defence host a Swansea City team who do not often concede.

Burnley kept a sixth clean sheet from their last eight games as they drew 0-0 at West Bromwich Albion on Thursday.

Having been relegated from the Premier League last season – when they conceded 78 goals in 38 top-flight games – Burnley have reset under Scott Parker, who took over from Vincent Kompany in the summer.

In 14 league outings so far this campaign, the Clarets have conceded a mere six goals.

That is the best record in the division, while Swansea have been breached only nine times so far.

Other than Burnley, only Sheffield United (seven) and West Brom (eight) have conceded on fewer occasions than the Swans in the Championship this season.

Does that make a goalless draw the most likely outcome when Burnley and Swansea come face to face?

"Both teams won't be approaching the game in that way," said Swansea head coach Luke Williams.

"I hope we are going to be difficult to score against, but I'm sure both teams are going to be trying very hard to beat each other."

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A Swansea win would be their most notable so far this season, given that Burnley - who could include ex-Swans Connor Roberts and Bashir Humphreys - have not been beaten on their own patch since relegation.

Parker's men have lost only two league games all season, at Sunderland in August and against in-form Millwall at The Den last weekend.

The challenge facing Swansea, therefore, is "as big as they get" in the second tier according to Williams.

"It’s going to be a very tough place to play football and establish ourselves," he added.

"They are a team with a lot of quality and a manager with a lot of experience. It is certainly going to be a huge test."

Swansea will be boosted by the return after suspension of Josh Tymon, but Andy Fisher, Sam Parker, Jay Fulton, Ollie Cooper, Eom Ji-Sung and Burnley old boy Josh Ginnelly remain out.

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Head coach Luke Williams plans to give Florian Bianchini more opportunities to play as a striker after the Frenchman's upturn in form.

Swansea thought they were getting a player who would operate primarily on the flanks when they paid about £2m to sign Bianchini from Bastia in August.

But the 23-year-old's performances since arriving in Wales have prompted Williams to change his view.

Bianchini struggled to make any impact while playing out wide during the first couple of months of the season.

But having come on as a centre-forward against Millwall a fortnight ago, Bianchini had two big opportunities to score.

When he was given another substitute appearance as a striker against Oxford United last weekend, Bianchini delivered his first Swansea goal.

Williams again used Bianchini as a number nine against Watford in midweek and, though he did not score, he looked sharp and hungry to help his team as they held on for a 1-0 victory.

"He played wide more often than not last season and has great attributes for a wide player," Williams said.

"He was brought into fill that role but I think it’s fair to say that he found it difficult to find some rhythm there.

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"But since he’s been down the middle of the pitch, he’s looked a lot more confident and comfortable and he is making a really positive impact. I think certainly his immediate future will be more there."

Bianchini has made himself a genuine option to start up front when Swansea look for a third successive victory at Burnley on Sunday.

Zan Vipotnik has started the last four games as Williams' central striker, with Liam Cullen being used in a deeper role.

Williams says his trio of centre-forward options all have different qualities, with the pacy Bianchini looking much more at home in a central position.

"He is so quick and powerful and he was showing a good level of aggression and looked a goal threat [against Watford]," Williams added.

"I think the goal at Oxford has given him an extra boost in confidence. I’m very excited about his future here with us."