Swansea City

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.

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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.