Swansea City

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Alan Curtis believes there's a "fresh optimism" at Swansea City following back-to-back home wins going into the derby meeting with Cardiff City.

Having lost 1-0 at Middlesbrough in their Championship opener, Luke Williams' side beat Gillingham 3-1 in the first round of the Carabao Cup before thumping Preston North End in their opening home league fixture of the season.

And club legend Curtis believes the Swans can continue their winning run when they welcome Erol Bulut's side to the Swansea.com Stadium on Sunday (15:00 BST).

"There's a fresh optimism and a fresh confidence in the team at the moment," Curtis told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"Certainly the way they played last Saturday against Preston, that's as good as we've played for a long time and you feel that there's more to come from this team.

"Going into the [Cardiff] game, we have good grounds for optimism. 

"We're at home. You can argue, is there a good time to play Cardiff? They lost 5-0 [at Burnley]. Is it a good time or a bad time? I'm sure there will be a reaction.

"They certainly won't come down and roll over, but I'm really confident at the moment."

Cardiff go into the derby having lost to Sunderland and Burnley, conceding seven times without scoring across those two league matches. Their sole win this season came against Bristol Rovers in the Carabao Cup.

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Swansea City have been boosted by news that Joe Allen is fit for Sunday's south Wales derby.

The vastly experienced midfielder is yet to play this season after picking up a toe injury in pre-season.

But former Wales international Allen, 34, has been declared fit for this weekend's meeting with neighbours Cardiff City at the Swansea.com Stadium.

“Joe Allen is in full training so is available for selection," said Swansea head coach Luke Williams.

"We are all happier when Joe is available and can be in the squad. It makes everybody at this club a lot happier, so that’s good news.”

Allen's return gives Swansea a welcome option in midfield.

But there are injury issues elsewhere in Williams' squad, with Sam Parker, Aimar Govea, Josh Ginnelly and goalkeeper Andy Fisher all on the sidelines.

It may be early in the season, but it's still the game Swansea City and Cardiff City fans have been waiting for. Or maybe not.

Whether you love it or loathe it, the south Wales derby is back on Sunday as the latest chapter in a 112-year rivalry gets ready to be written.

Will it be Cardiff revenge after their joy in breaking Swansea's stranglehold proved short-lived when Luke Williams' side stormed to a home victory back in March?

Or is normal Swansea service fully resumed in this fixture as they look for a sixth win from the last seven derbies?

After Liam Cullen's heroics last time out, who could be the key man this time and add their name to the likes of Marvin Emnes, Nathan Dyer, Jordi Gomez and Wilfried Bony in derby day lore?

And does the 3-0 win over Preston give you confidence the Swans can do it again - or has it papered over the cracks of a paper-thin squad?

You can send us your pre-derby views here, external.

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Owain Tudur Jones believes Swansea City's current style of play is Cardiff City's "kryptonite".

The Swans face the Bluebirds in the first south Wales derby of the 2024-25 Championship season on Sunday afternoon (15:00 BST).

Luke Williams' side head into the match at the Swansea.com Stadium as favourites having won five of the past six meetings between the two teams.

And former Swansea midfielder Jones is confident the hosts will emerge victorious over Erol Bulut's side this weekend.

"Swansea are in a better place, let's get it right," he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"I think history tells us Swansea have a much better record. I think recent history tells the same story.

"The only blip from a Swansea perspective was the one time when they had a manager who decided to play a bit of hoof ball under Michael Duff and I think that gave Cardiff a better chance of winning that game at the start of last season.

"The way Swansea have played under the last few managers, certainly Russell Martin and Luke Williams at the end of last year, it is Cardiff's kryptonite.

"Maybe these words will come back to haunt me, being an ex-Swansea player, I cannot see anything other than a Swansea win on Sunday."

Swansea are bidding to secure a third successive home win having beaten Gillingham and Preston North End since losing their Championship opener at Middlesbrough.

Cardiff go in search of a first league victory of the campaign following defeats by Sunderland and Burnley.

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Jamie Paterson’s next move could be revealed soon with the attacking midfielder looking set to sign for MLS side Charlotte FC.

Paterson is a free agent after his Swansea City contract expired this summer.

Swansea offered the 32-year-old a new deal, but head coach Luke Williams said earlier this month “the landscape changed” with Paterson because the club “didn’t have too much contact” with the player during the summer.

Nevertheless, Williams refused to rule out the idea of Paterson re-signing.

Paterson scored 17 goals in 109 Swansea appearances but is thought to have been unhappy with the contract offer the Championship club made this summer.

The former Bristol City player now looks poised for a move to the MLS, after being pictured in training with Charlotte.

The American club are managed by ex-Aston Villa boss Dean Smith, who was Paterson’s manager when he came through the ranks at Walsall.

Chris Wathan
BBC Sport Wales

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Swansea City remain on the hunt for new signings, with the club hopeful of making additions before Sunday's south Wales derby.

Despite a positive impact made by summer arrivals Zan Vipotnik, Eom Ji-Sung, Goncalo Franco and Lawrence Vigoroux, the Swans are still in need of numbers.

With 13 senior players gone since the end of last season, boss Luke Williams admits it has been a challenging transfer window for the Championship club.

Few fans are expecting Swansea to start splashing the cash as the big-money moves further up the pyramid continue to roll in ahead of next Friday's deadline day.

The latest deals include faces familiar to Swansea, including former loan midfielder Conor Gallagher.

Gallagher, who spent the second half of the 2019-20 season with the Swans as Steve Cooper's side reached the Championship play-offs, has ended speculation over his Chelsea future by completing a £33m move to Atletico Madrid.

Meanwhile Bashir Humphreys, who struggled to make a real impact on at the Swansea.com Stadium last season, has gone on loan from Chelsea to Championship Burnley - with some reports of a sizeable permanent deal in the pipeline.

A third former loanee from Chelsea has been the subject of plenty of headlines this summer, with Newcastle keen on landing now Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.

Guehi was another player who caught the eye during Cooper's time at the club, subsequently moving to Selhurst Park where the Eagles have turned down three bids from Newcastle - the latest believed to be in the region of £60m.

But while seeing loan players move on for big money is one thing, reports regarding a former target may sting.

Matt O'Riley was high on Russell Martin's wishlist in January 2022, six months into his first season in Wales.

The midfielder, who was available at the time for about £1.5m from Martin's former club MK Dons, was said to be keen on linking up with his old boss.

In the end, though, Swansea's hierarchy did not sanction the deal having already brought in Andy Fisher from MK Dons that month, with Flynn Downes, Michael Obafemi and Joel Piroe among those who had been signed for fees since the summer.

O'Riley instead headed to Celtic after they triggered his release clause, and has gone on to become a star at Parkhead, with three titles to his name.

Now a Denmark international, O'Riley attracted interest from Atletico Madrid in January.

And it appears Celtic are bracing themselves for further interest, with Atalanta, Brighton and Napoli among those linked with a transfer that would likely surpass the Scottish champions' record sale at around £25m.

A case of what might have been, perhaps?

But while Swansea may well regret one that got away, the challenge is now to try to grab a future money-spinner before the window closes.

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Swansea City's EFL Cup second-round home tie with Wycombe Wanderers will take place on Wednesday, 28 August (19:45 BST).

The Swans have a Championship derby this coming Sunday as rivals Cardiff City visit the Swansea.com Stadium (15:00 BST).

Swansea eased into EFL Cup second round with a 3-1 win over Gillingham thanks to goals from Ronald, Liam Cullen and Azeem Abdulai.

The tie against League One Wycombe, who include former Wales striker Sam Vokes in their ranks, will be the sides' first meeting since a 2-2 Championship draw in Swansea in April 2021.

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Swansea City could still sign Ruben Providence despite the former France Under-21 winger's trial with the Championship club having come to an end.

Providence featured as a second-half substitute in a friendly against Rio Ave during the Swans' pre-season preparations.

The 23-year-old plays for Austrian club TSV Hartberg but has been allowed to spend time at Swansea and Championship new boys Oxford United this summer.

“He's not been in with us but I think there is still a possibility that something could happen, because I don't think he has put pen to paper anywhere," said Swansea head coach Luke Williams.

“So I'll catch up with the recruitment people, the chairman, the sporting director."

On transfers in general, Williams added after Saturday's 3-0 win over Preston North End: “When we catch up in the week, hopefully I'll have some interesting [transfer] news for you [the media]."

Ex-Swansea City under-21 coach Cameron Toshack believes his former club still need more goalscorers in their squad despite winning 3-0 against Preston North End.

Swansea only have Zan Vipotnik and Liam Cullen as recognised strikers in their team.

Toshack was asked on BBC Radio Wales' 'Call Rob Phillips' programme which areas Swansea need to strengthen on the pitch.

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Zan Vipotnik’s first Swansea City goal will have felt like “air in his lungs”, says head coach Luke Williams.

Swansea signed the Slovenia striker on a four-year contract earlier this month following the mutual termination of his contract with Bordeaux.

Vipotnik, 22, came off the bench on Saturday to score the third goal in Swansea’s 3-0 Championship win over Preston, converting Ronald’s cross from close range.

“It [scoring] is air in their lungs. These guys don't feel the same level of happiness until they hit the back of the net,” said Williams.

“This is why I'm really keen to try and provide these guys with these type of chances that they can thrive on to tap the ball in.

“Midfield players like to score screamers but a striker doesn't care if it just rolls over the line.

“I think if you ask any striker to score early and get a tap-in, it’s a dream for them. So I'm really pleased because I wanted him to score and I wanted him to score this type of goal.

“I want the strikers to feel like the team are going to try to penetrate the box, try to hit the ball across for them. Today, that was exactly what we got. It looks so easy but it’s a skill.”

BBC Sport Wales reporter Dafydd Pritchard gives his verdict after Swansea City's 3-0 win at home to Preston North End.

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Chairman Andy Coleman says Swansea City are "far from finished" in the summer transfer window.

The Swans have already seen 13 players depart the club in recent months, with only four - Lawrence Vigouroux, Eom Ji-Sung, Goncalo Franco and Zan Vipotnik - joining Luke Williams' side.

They are desperately thin on options in certain areas of their squad, with head coach Williams stating the club may need an "even tighter strategy to get players pretty much agreed before the windows open" in future.

But Swans chairman Coleman stressed the club are continuing to scour the market as they bid to bolster their squad before the transfer deadline.

Writing in Swansea's pre-match programme ahead of the Championship clash with Preston North End, Coleman said: "There were lively performances from our new recruits (against Gillingham), who have made a positive impression since their respective arrivals, and we know we will need to make further quality additions to our squad before the transfer window closes at the end of this month.

"Our recruitment work is constantly ongoing, and our efforts in this window are far from finished as we aim to improve and strengthen Luke’s squad."

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Luke Williams says Swansea City have another chance to take a step forward when they take on Preston North End on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Swansea host managerless Preston in their first home game of the new Championship campaign.

Williams’ new-look squad claimed a first victory of 2024-25 against Gillingham in the EFL Cup in midweek, but they are yet to get off the mark in the league after opening-day defeat at Middlesbrough.

“The games are coming thick and fast,” Swansea head coach Williams said.

“No sooner have we debriefed one game than we are preparing for the next, so it feels like we are very much back into the competitive flow of the season.

“We have learned a lot from both games and now we have another brilliant opportunity to try to take another step further forward and try to be the team we want to be.”

Swansea remain short of options, with Williams suggesting the club may need to shift their approach to the transfer market having made only four signings so far this summer.

Nevertheless, Williams was enthused by his team’s performance in the 3-1 win over Gillingham.

“We should win the game, we are expected to win the game, but there’s a way of winning and the team performed in the way I would like us to be able to perform more often,” he said.

“We have some new players, some young players, and we need that time to rehearse and practise and be brave enough to try to play that way in the Championship.”

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Lawrence Vigouroux says he would be happy to see Swansea City sign another goalkeeper following the injury to Andy Fisher.

Vigouroux has begun the season as Swansea’s first choice in goal following the departure of Carl Rushworth, who impressed while on loan in Wales in 2023-24.

Fisher was due to provide competition for the goalkeeping position in Luke Williams’ team, but the former MK Dons player is facing a lengthy spell out after groin surgery.

As a result, youngster Nathan Broome has been on the bench in Swansea’s first two games of the season.

Head coach Williams says Swansea will look to replace Fisher before the transfer window closes on 30 August – and Vigouroux would welcome the competition.

“This is a massive club. You can’t have just me and a couple of guys who haven’t really got that experience,” said Vigouroux.

“I completely understand [that Swansea are looking for another keeper] and I relish the opportunity to fight for the shirt with anybody. You can’t have someone who is too comfortable in their position.”

Vigouroux said there are “some really good goalkeepers in the building” at Swansea, who face Preston North End in their first home league game of the season on Saturday.

“We have lost one unfortunately to injury in Fish (Fisher),” he added.

“I worked with him for a couple of days and I could see he has a lot of very good attributes that I could learn from.”

As well as Broome, 19-year-old academy product Evan Watts has spent time with Swansea’s senior squad in recent weeks.

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Head coach Luke Williams has refused to be drawn on reports linking Swansea City with defender Max Johnston, a player he has described as "versatile" and "dynamic".

The Championship side are reportedly one of three clubs chasing the Scotland Under-21 defender, who plays for Austrian side Sturm Graz.

"As you can imagine I'm going to straight-bat that one," said Williams, when asked about the player.

"I think that he's a versatile player. He plays on the outside of the pitch, yes, but he's quite a dynamic player.

"I know that because I've seen the boy play and know some bits about him, but there's nothing more I can tell you."

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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.