Swansea City

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Luke Williams says his Swansea City squad have shown they are “24-hour football players” with their work during the close season.

Swansea’s players do not begin pre-season preparations for the 2024-25 Championship season until 1 July.

But the majority have returned to the club’s Fairwood training base over the last couple of weeks for summer check-ins.

“They have been in for three days at a time because we wanted them to restart their engine a little bit, we wanted them to refocus their minds,” head coach Williams explained.

“We are checking up on them, making sure they are OK and that they are not losing their athleticism too much. We want them to start to feel like they are excited about coming back for pre-season training.”

The likes of Ben Cabango, Liam Cullen and Azeem Abdulai were not involved in the close-season sessions because they have been on international duty this summer, while Ronald was excused having returned home for a summer break in Brazil.

Williams says he “can’t fault the application of the players”, who have been given individual training programmes to follow during the summer break.

“We have actually been very surprised, in a positive way, at just how well they have been looking after themselves,” he added.

“They have had down time, of course, but this shows they are 24-hour football players, as opposed to the old days when they were footballers slash rock stars.”

Swansea City’s ‘Cyril the Swan’ has been named the world’s most ‘memorable football mascot’ in a new poll.

As part of National Mascot Day in the United States, analysis by OLBG taken from the quiz website Sporcle has revealed that Cyril was remembered by 92.10% of sport fans in one online quiz since 2021.

The Swans mascot hit the headlines in 1998 when he was fined by football authorities for invading the pitch during an FA Cup game with Millwall.

Cyril was even called up to give evidence to an FAW disciplinary panel in his fancy dress outfit, as shown in this report from the BBC Wales archive.

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Swansea City old boys Joe Rodon and Connor Roberts could be back at Leeds United next season, according to reports.

The Wales defenders were part of the Leeds squad that missed out on promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, Rodon spending the whole of last season on loan at Elland Road while Roberts joined midway through.

Centre back Rodon has gone back to Premier League parent club Tottenham Hotspur after making 50 appearances for Leeds in all competitions.

Despite having spent two seasons away from the north London club, Spurs have reportedly triggered a year-long extension to Rodon's contract.

Roberts, meanwhile, has a year left on his contract at Burnley, who are back in the Championship after being relegated at the end of last season.

But online sports website The Athletic says Leeds are keen to bring the pair back to Elland Road as they rebuild for another season in the second tier following their Championship play-off final defeat to Russell Martin's Southampton.

Rodon could go back to Leeds for another loan spell, though the report suggests there is also interest in him from Premier League clubs after he impressed alongside Wales teammate Ethan Ampadu at the heart of United's defence.

Roberts' future at Burnley could depend on who takes over as manager following Vincent Kompany's move to Bayern Munich.

The 28-year-old defender lost his place in Kompany's starting XI last autumn, which led to his mid-season switch to Leeds, for whom he made 15 appearances.

Former Wales forward Craig Bellamy is Burnley's interim head coach, with the likes of Frank Lampard, Liam Rosenior and Scott Parker under consideration.

Rodon and Roberts both played against hometown club Swansea last season as Leeds beat the Swans home and away in 2023-24.

Swans fans would doubtless love to see them pull on a Swansea kit again, but it looks more likely to be the white of Leeds if the speculation proves correct.

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Head of goalkeeping Martyn Margetson has signed a new three-year contract with Swansea City.

The 52-year-old's previous deal with the Championship club was due to expire this summer.

Swansea view Margetson's new contract as a coup given that the Welshman is also part of Gareth Southgate's England backroom team.

Margetson, who has had previous stints as a coach with West Ham United, Cardiff City, Crystal Palace and Everton, will continue to combine his roles with Swansea and England.

He spent five years working for the Football Association of Wales under Gary Speed and then Chris Coleman before making the switch to the Three Lions after Euro 2016.

Margetson was instrumental in the development of Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth during the young Englishman's loan with Swansea last season.

He is in his second spell at Swansea having been on Steve Cooper's staff between 2019 and 2021, returning in the summer of 2023 after Russell Martin and his backroom team left for Southampton.

The Port Talbot native's son, Kit Margetson, is currently part of Swansea's under-18 side.

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Former Swansea City manager Graham Potter is being reported as a managerial target for Leicester City.

But another former Swans boss, Steve Cooper, is also being linked to take over at the recently promoted Premier League club.

Leicester are on the hunt for a new manager after the departure of Enzo Maresca to Chelsea.

Potter has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in April 2023, having joined them from Brighton - the club he left Swansea for in 2019 after an eye-catching first season in British management.

Cooper replaced Potter at the Swans before joining Nottingham Forest in 2021, leading the City Ground side to promotion in his first season.

He was assisted by ex-Swansea captain Alan Tate, who left Forest with Cooper last December and is understood to be ready to work alongside the ex-England youth chief when he makes his return to football.

In a BBC Sport poll, Potter is currently the preferred choice among Leicester fans, with Cooper trailing behind former West Ham boss David Moyes.

Neither Potter nor Cooper would be the first former Swansea manager to take the reins at Leicester.

Brendan Rodgers won the FA Cup at Leicester in a four-year spell that came to end in April 2023 before the Foxes' relegation to the Championship.

Rodgers arrived in Swansea to succeed Paulo Sousa when he left for Leicester in 2010 for a short-lived spell in the East Midlands.

And Micky Adams - who had a 13-day, three-match spell as Swansea boss in 1997 - managed Leicester to Premier League promotion in 2002.

Want more transfer stories and gossip? Read Tuesday's full column

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Swansea City have plenty of work to do this summer if they are to mould a squad capable of a significant improvement next season after the struggles of the last campaign.

But more than a month since defeat by Millwall brought the curtain down on 2023-24, there is little sign yet of Swansea doing business in the transfer market.

Swansea fans hoping for news of new recruits have so far been left disappointed.

Various players have been linked but, as yet, Swansea have not begun filling the various holes in Luke Williams’ squad.

But it is not as if Swansea are the only club in this situation.

In fact, the Championship transfer market has been remarkably quiet this summer.

You can almost count on one hand the number of done deals so far in the second tier.

With the transfer window officially opening later this week, perhaps a few more deals will start to materialise.

But many more will not happen until pre-season, while there will be the inevitable late rush before the window closes at the end of August.

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Swansea City assistant coach Alan Sheehan has obtained his Uefa pro licence.

The Irishman previously held an A licence but has now secured the highest coaching qualification available in European football.

Sheehan joined the Swans in the summer of 2023 and was named caretaker boss following the sacking of Michael Duff in December.

The 37-year-old - who had spells with clubs including Leeds United and Leicester City during his playing career - oversaw Championship wins against Rotherham United, Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion during his seven-game tenure as boss.

He remains on the coaching staff under head coach Luke Williams, who was named as Duff's successor in January.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Sam Gallagher has his admirers at Swansea City, but the chances of the Blackburn Rovers striker ending up in Wales this summer look fairly slim.

Gallagher is being linked with a close-season move despite the fact that Rovers have triggered an extension clause in the 28-year-old’s contract which means he is tied to Ewood Park until 2025.

Swansea have been touted as potential suitors along with Luton Town and Ipswich Town, who reportedly saw bids for former Southampton player Gallagher rejected in January.

Would Swansea like to sign the 6ft 4in frontman? Very possibly, yes.

But are they likely to get him should Blackburn decide to sell? It is doubtful.

Gallagher’s wage demands are likely to put him beyond Swansea’s reach, which would not be the case for some of the other clubs who are said to be interested.

Head coach Luke Williams has said he wants a new centre-forward this summer as he looks to add firepower to a squad who did not take enough chances during 2023-24, and it is understood there is money available to use as a transfer fee.

But it would be a surprise should a deal for Gallagher get over the line.

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Chris Davies has left Tottenham Hotspur to become Birmingham City boss almost six months since he turned down the chance to take over at Swansea City.

Davies was Swansea’s primary target following the sacking of Michael Duff last December and held extensive talks with the Welsh club.

But Davies eventually opted to stay on as senior assistant coach at Tottenham under Ange Postecoglou, with Swansea eventually appointing Luke Williams as head coach in January.

Davies, who was on Swansea’s staff when Brendan Rodgers was the club’s manager, has now said farewell to Spurs having agreed a four-year deal with Birmingham.

The Blues were relegated to League One in 2023-24, though they do have ambitious owners.

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The sight of Josh Sheehan leading Wales out to face Gibraltar on Thursday will prompt smiles at Swansea City’s academy.

Sheehan, after all, learned his trade at Swansea, coming through the ranks after joining the club as a 10-year-old.

He was always highly regarded, with many comparing the Pembrey-born midfielder to another Swansea product, Joe Allen.

After loan spells with Yeovil Town and Newport County, Sheehan left Swansea to join the Exiles on a permanent basis in January 2018, moving on to current club Bolton Wanderers in 2021.

He made only one first-team appearance for the Swans, in a League Cup win over Rotherham in 2014, though there may have been many more had they not been a Premier League club throughout his time with the senior squad.

Even though he has carved out a career elsewhere, Sheehan is regarded as a success story for Swansea’s academy given that he has played more than 300 senior games.

And he is one of many players who have gone on to win senior Wales caps having come through the age groups at Swansea in the last couple of decades.

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Since moving to what is now the Swansea.com Stadium in 2005, Swansea have brought through the likes of Allen, Shaun MacDonald and Ollie Cooper in midfield, plus the versatile Jazz Richards.

There have been quality defenders, too, in Ben Davies, Joe Rodon, Connor Roberts and Ben Cabango, plus attacking players like Daniel James and Liam Cullen.

And there are others who have made it to the Wales team without ever playing for Swansea, like Emyr Huws – who left the club for Manchester City as a teenager – and Ryan Hedges.

Who might come next on what is a well-trodden path?

The likes of Sam Parker, Ben Lloyd and Joel Cotterill all have a chance.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Jamal Lowe is officially a free agent after being released by a Premier League club Bournemouth.

Lowe, 29, scored 10 goals in 35 appearances while on loan at Swansea City in 2023-24.

But the forward is now on the lookout for new employers after he was confirmed as one of five senior players who will leave the Cherries this summer.

So could a return to Wales be on the cards?

Swansea head coach Luke Williams is an admirer of Lowe, and said towards the end of the season that the Welsh club would consider offering the Jamaica international a permanent contract after what was a decent loan spell.

However, Williams was quick to point out that Lowe’s earning power might put him out of Swansea’s reach.

As a free agent with a proven record in the Championship, Lowe is unlikely to be short of suitors in the next few weeks.

Swansea must weigh up whether they want to push hard for Lowe, or look elsewhere as they bid to add firepower to Williams' squad.

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Swansea’s City’s majority shareholders have provided the club with a cash injection for the fourth month in a row.

A new share issue has seen the consortium of American owners provide just under £3m worth of funding.

It comes less than five weeks after the most recent funding, taking investment to £10.5m since the turn of the year – and close to £25m over the past 12 months.

In an update to members, external, Swansea City’s Supporters' Trust said further share issues are to be expected next month, echoing a statement from the club in February, external which said “additional equity injections” were to follow as part of budget plans and were to help support the costs of the playing squad and day-to-day operations.

The shares will boost the holding of Swansea LLC – the US-based company that includes Steve Kaplan, Jason Levien, Jason Silverstein and current Swans chair Andy Coleman.

It will also decrease the shareholding of others, including the trust whose stake is now at 9.58% – with 5% of that protected. Their position on the club’s board is also unaffected.

This comes following the publication of the club’s accounts that confirmed a pre-tax loss of £17.9m for the financial year ending July 2023. As an average, that meant the club were losing around £1.5m a month.

It was an increase on the previous year despite an increase in turnover of £1.8m to £21.5m.

In July 2023, the club’s wage bill also stood at £21.5m.

The losses remained within compliance with EFL profit and sustainability rules, with Coleman saying in April: “We have been working diligently to put the building blocks in place to turn around the footballing and financial performance of Swansea City.

“Much work remains to be done. The Championship is a very unforgiving environment, and we hold no illusions about how difficult it is to succeed on the pitch and off it."

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Swansea City captain Matt Grimes was among a number of players who are already back on the training ground ahead of the new season.

Grimes, 28, was joined by the likes of fellow long-serving midfielder Jay Fulton in returning to the club's Fairwood base.

It's part of a mid-summer 'check-in' arranged by boss Luke Williams, who was also back in training gear overseeing some ball work with a handful of his squad.

In a social media post, external made by the club, players are seen going through fitness and medical tests as well as some light drills in keeping with Williams' desire to ensure players and staff stay on top of any issues.

Further players will be due in for their off-season checks before Williams' first pre-season in charge begins on 1 July.

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