Swansea City’s transfer business is in full flow, and two new signings have come through the door as Luke Williams looks to shape his squad ahead of his first full season in charge.
The former MK Dons boss took over in January and helped steer Swansea away from the relegation zone to a 14th place finish, and the hope is that the Swans will enjoy a more successful 2024/25 season.
Goncalo Franco and Eom Ji-Sung have already been added to Swansea’s ranks, and it’s expected that there’ll be more signings to come before their trip to Middlesbrough on August 10th.
The additions of Franco and Eom look like positive ones, but it’s clear that Swansea are still short in certain positions, and it’s important that these are addressed before the season starts. However, due to a lack of strength in depth in some positions, certain players could benefit – here are the winners from the Swans’ summer business so far.
Andy Fisher
As it stands, Andy Fisher is set to be Swansea’s first choice goalkeeper next season after being understudy to Carl Rushworth during the 2023/24 campaign.
Rushworth played every single league game for Swansea last season but has returned to parent club Brighton following his loan spell, and Fisher is set to benefit.
Since joining Swansea in January 2022, Fisher has had spells of being the club’s number one goalkeeper but has never been able to nail down a place in the starting XI for an entire season, and he looks set to be the man between the sticks for their trip to Middlesbrough on August 10th.
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Other than being tentatively linked to Huddersfield Town’s Lee Nicholls back in June, Swansea haven’t been heavily linked with a goalkeeper signing, and Williams could be willing to give Fisher a chance after previously working with him at MK Dons.
As it stands, Fisher is a winner from Swansea’s summer business, and he’s set to feature heavily this season.
Liam Cullen & Mykola Kukharevych
Other than goalkeeper, striker is the position where Swansea are most desperate for a signing, and as it stands, Liam Cullen and Mykola Kukharevych are the only strikers at the club.
Jerry Yates has departed on loan for Derby County, and Jamal Lowe’s loan spell has come to an end, so Cullen and Kukharevych are set to reap the rewards.
Welsh international Cullen has proven himself to be a decent option at Championship level, but Kukharevych played just 27 minutes of league football following Williams’ arrival and struggled to adapt to English football following his move from Troyes.
However, the Ukrainian will take heart from his recent goal in Swansea’s 3-1 win over Swindon Town, and he’ll be looking to force his way back into Williams’ plans this summer.
Swansea supporters would like at least one more striker through the door, but as it stands, Cullen and Kukharevych are set to benefit from the lack of depth in that position.
Matt Grimes
Matt Grimes has recently been linked with a move to Championship rivals Sheffield United, but if Swansea’s skipper stays put, he’s set to reap the rewards of Goncalo Franco’s signing.
Swansea still have experienced campaigners like Jay Fulton and Joe Allen on their books in midfield, but Franco looks to be a level above the pair, and he could help Grimes take his game to the next level.
Franco was part of a Moreirense side that finished sixth in the Portuguese top-flight last season, and he was dubbed as “one of Moreirense’s main assets” by Guimaraes Daily.
| Goncalo Franco’s 2023/24 Primeira Liga season – Fotmob | |
| Appearances | 33 |
| Minutes played | 2,735 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 4 |
| Pass accuracy | 80.6% |
| Chances created | 24 |
| Dribble success | 36.6% |
| Tackles won | 66.7% |
| Duels won | 47.9% |
| Interceptions | 59 |
It’s clear that the 23-year-old is highly-rated in Portugal, and it appears to be a real coup by Swansea to bring him to the Championship.
While the aforementioned Fulton and Allen are decent options at Championship level, if Franco is able to replicate what he’s done in Portugal, he should be an improvement on what they’ve already got at the club, and he’d be the perfect partner for Grimes in the middle of the park.
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