Showing posts with label Swansea City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swansea City. Show all posts

Laudrup poised for Swansea talks



Swansea manager Michael Laudrup will begin contract talks with the club's board in the coming days, according to his agent.



Laudrup's existing deal runs until the end of next season but Swans chairman Huw Jenkins confirmed last week he would like to extend the Dane's deal by 12 months.



Laudrup is happy in south Wales but recently stated his focus is on the present rather than the future and is in no rush to negotiate new terms.



Nevertheless, Laudrup's agent Bayram Tutumlu told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet: "Yes, Swansea has a strong interest in extending Michael Laudrup's contract.



"In the coming days, we will meet with Swansea and discuss the possibility of an extension."



Laudrup is enjoying a good first season in charge of Swansea after replacing Brendan Rodgers in June.



The 48-year-old has led the Swans into the top half of the Barclays Premier League table and they are already just three points shy of the 40 widely regarded as the mark required to avoid relegation.



Laudrup has also guided Swansea to the Capital One Cup final at Wembley later this month, where they will face Bradford.
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Michu signs new deal at Swansea

Forward Michu has signed a new deal at Swansea City that will keep him at the club until the end of 2016.



The Spaniard, who has scored 16 goals in 28 games so far for the Premier League side, has put pen-to-paper on an improved deal that is effectively a one-year extension of his previous contract.



"It was an easy decision for me,'' Michu told the club's official website. "I am living a dream here at Swansea.



"I'm probably enjoying my football more than ever. It's easy to play with this team and tonight I have the chance to reach the first final of my career.



"I'm really happy here in the city with the people, the club and the fans. Everyone has been so nice to me since I arrived.



"I think the club are happy with me because they have given me a new contract. I am certainly happy with the club.''
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Swansea close in on Roland Lamah

Spanish newspaper AS is reporting that Swansea are in talks with Osasuna midfielder Roland Lamah.



Rather than resting on their laurels following a bright start to the season, Swansea officials are looking for ways to further reinforcing the squad.



With both Michu and Danny Graham linked with January exit, the Swans are keen to add few more players to their ranks during the winter transfer window.



According to AS, the Premier League side are closing in on Osasuna midfielder Roland Lamah.



The same source claims the player has been given permission by his club to negotiate personal terms with Swansea, with the transfer set to be completed in the coming days.



Lamah, 25, joined Osasuna from Le Mans in the summer of 2011 and quickly established himself as a first team regular.



The Belgian has made a total of 45 La Liga appearances for the club, and scored 3 goals.
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Michu happy at Swansea

Swansea forward Michu has rubbished speculation linking him with a move away from the club, insisting he is happy in Wales.



Michu has made a huge impact since moving from Rayo Vallecano in the summer, scoring 12 Premier League goals.



His form has seen him linked with a possible quick-fire move in January, with Atletico Madrid one of the clubs mentioned but the 26-year-old insists he is not thinking about leaving the Liberty Stadium.



"Right now I'm happy, playing almost every minute and I'm very happy," he told Radio Marca.



"It is always nice that you get talked about with teams like Atletico Madrid, one of the largest in Spain, but now I am very happy in Swansea."



It has even been suggested that, with the likes of Fernando Llorente and Fernando Torres struggling for form in recent months, Michu could be in line for a Spanish call-up and Vicente del Bosque admitted this week he was looking at him given his goalscoring record.



"If that call comes, fine, and if not, then I just stay the same," he insisted.



"By now to have 12 goals is great, but above all I am enjoying what I am doing in Swansea. But here you have to battle as nobody gives you anything."



Swansea play Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday and he admits he would love to play at Wembley.



He added: "Why can we not be there at the end? Hopefully, it would be nice to be at Wembley."
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New Swansea deal for Davies

Teenage Swansea City defender Ben Davies has signed a new three-and-half-year contract with the Premier League club.



The 19-year-old left-back had 18 months left on his existing deal, but Swansea was keen to tie him to a long-term contract after impressing so far this season.



Davies was thrust into the first team after Neil Taylor suffered a broken ankle against Sunderland at the start of September, and his form was rewarded with his inclusion in Chris Coleman's Wales side for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Scotland and Croatia.



Davies told the club website: "I'm delighted to have signed a new deal here.



"It shows the faith the club has in me and I've been rewarded for my performances so far."



The Neath product has come up through the academy system with the Swans, and is looking forward to continuing his development at the Liberty Stadium after committing until June 2016.



He said: "It is more security for me and that will allow me to keep working as hard as possible to continue my development here.



"I have already learned a lot from not only playing, but by working hard in training with the manager, coaching staff and team-mates and taking as much advice as possible from them.



"It's a great time to be at Swansea City - whether you are a player or supporter - and I'm delighted to be a part of it."
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Swansea: Allen will cost Liverpool more than £20million.

Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup has insisted that Joe Allen will be 'very, very expensive' and should cost Liverpool more than £20million.



The 22-year-old has already been the subject of a bid from former Swans boss Brendan Rodgers - who is now in charge at Anfield.



Laudrup, though, has pointed to the fact that Liverpool spent £17million on Jordan Henderson last summer, and he feels that Allen should cost more.



"He is worth a lot of money because he's a good player," said Laudrup.



"The manager knows him and knows if he wants to change the way Liverpool play he needs a player in the midfield like Joe Allen.



"But he also knows he's very, very expensive. We saw they bought a couple of midfielders in the last few years for a lot of money, but with all due respect Joe is on a level above.



"In my opinion, if one is worth £17m then Joe is worth more, perhaps over £20million. I'm talking as a football man not as a chairman but if the chairman asks my advice then I will tell him the same."



It is understood the offer Swansea rejected last month included Jonjo Shelvey moving on a season-long loan to the Liberty.



But Laudrup says he will not accept an offer that includes a player not considered first-choice at Anfield.



When asked about the possibility of an exchange, he said: "If we could have (Luis) Suarez ... We have good players here and they have good players, but I can't see a player not in the starting 11 at Liverpool being in the starting 11 in our team.



"They might want to do it because they can pay less money."



While Allen continues to be linked with Liverpool, Laudrup is still looking to strengthen his squad, and the Dane says he is closing in on two more additions, believed to be a striker and a winger.



"One is quite close but the other one is more difficult," he said.



"But I hope he will be an important player for us. He is playing at quite a big club so it's not that easy. They are both offensive players. One can defend as well.



"We are also working on other alternatives."
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Swans frustrated by Reds' interest in Joe Allen

Swansea have insisted they are disappointed with Liverpool's pursuit of midfielder Joe Allen.



Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, who made the switch from the Liberty Stadium to Anfield to replace Kenny Dalglish this summer, confirmed his interest in the Wales international last week.



Allen signed a four-year deal with Swansea last year but Rodgers is keen to bring him to the north-west of England.



And the south Wales club are disappointed, claiming Liverpool agreed not to make approaches for Swans players until next year.



A club spokesman said: "Swansea can confirm that Liverpool have expressed an interest in Joe Allen, despite a written agreement with Liverpool not to approach any players within the 12-month period of former manager Brendan Rodgers leaving for Anfield."



The spokesman continued on www.swanseacity.net: "There has also been interest from other clubs regarding his possible availability and the club is due to speak to Joe, as originally planned, about the situation when he returns from GB (Olympic) duty.



"The club is not prepared to release any details on whether any formal bids have been made at this stage or details of Joe's contract, which are private and confidential.



"The club is extremely disappointed that speculation regarding certain aspects of his contract have been released to the media by parties outside the club."



Swansea, who finished three places and five points adrift of eighth-placed Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League, are keen to keep their current players.



The spokesman added: "Fortunately the club is in a financial position where it does not need to sell any of its players and will continue to work in the best interests of its supporters, who are our priority, and the club to provide new manager Michael Laudrup with the best opportunity to be successful in the forthcoming Premier League campaign."



Rodgers last week said: "I have a great relationship with Swansea but if there is a market for any of the players, I would like to be in that market.



"They respect that. He is a very talented player, which everyone knows but there is nothing more at the moment. When players come to a club such as Liverpool, it's never straightforward.



"There are always other barriers and difficulties. At this moment, there are ongoing negotiations on a few targets.



"We hope we're close to some deals. I need to evaluate the players we have and assess the squad and bring some in to bring freshness to the group.



"As a manager you want them in sooner rather than later but the main thing is to get them in before the beginning of the season. If we do that, our job will be done."



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Swansea sign Flores from Genoa

Swansea City have announced the signing of Jose Manuel Flores from Genoa for a fee of two million pounds, plus potential add-ons.



The Spanish defender completed a medical on Monday and put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the English Premier League side subject to international clearance.



"I'm very happy to be here,'' Flores told the club's website. "I know I am joining a club that has been growing over the last few years and is still ambitious to go even higher.



"Having played in La Liga and Serie A, two great leagues, it's a dream come true to play in the Premier League, one of the best, if not the best, in the world.''



Flores, also known by many as 'Chico', said new Swansea boss Michael Laudrup played a key role in persuading him to leave Genoa and join the Welsh club, having played under him at Mallorca previously.



"He was one of the main reasons I signed,'' Flores said. "He knows me as a person and a player, so I was honoured when the call came.



"I believe the manager will be good for Swansea and they have done extremely well to get him. Swansea's way of playing is the same style as he wants to play the game. He is the right person to take this club forward.



"Being brought up in Spain, I have the same culture of possession and passing football. I like to play from the back, come forward with the ball, and add to the possession game.



"I'm really looking forward to it. I have been studying Swansea on the internet and I know I am joining a club with passionate supporters who are very close to the players.''



Flores began his career as a youth team player with his hometown club, Cadiz CF, in 2005.



Since then, he has gone on to have loan spells with Racing Club and Barcelona B, while moving on permanently to Almeria and then Genoa.



It was with Genoa that he decided to go out on loan to Mallorca to link up with Laudrup, making 33 appearances under the Danish manager.



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Krohn-Dehli eyes Swans deal

Brondby winger Michael Krohn-Dehli has admitted he would like to link up with Michael Laudrup as Swansea continue to track the player.



Laudrup is keen to make new additions to the Swansea squad after taking over from Brendan Rodgers and Krohn-Dehl is a player who has been strongly linked with a move to the Liberty Stadium.



The 29-year-old impressed for Denmark at Euro 2012, particularly in the victory over Holland, and is now hoping his performances will have convinced Laudrup to make a move for him.



The winger still has 12 months to run on his current deal but would jump at the chance of a move to Swansea if Laudrup followed up his interest with an offer.



"Everyone knows how Laudrup wants to play his football and his style is something that would fit me well. But, it is hard for me to relate to the speculation of rumours," he said.



"I'm not picky and the transfer window is open for a long time, so anything can happen. I'm ambitious and want to succeed in playing abroad."


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