Bob Bradley has revealed a durable defender and midfielder top his January shopping list as he bids to keep Swansea City in the Premier League.
The Swans manager has insisted money has been made available to him to strengthen a squad that has won just two league matches all season and are bottom of the table.
Bradley says his top priority is a defender who can help lower the team’s shocking rate of almost three goals per game conceded since he took charge seven matches ago.
“We need to improve from back to front and you can read into that in all ways,” said Bradley.
“But we need a defender we can count on week in, week out. And a midfielder. Players who are ready for the challenge of the second half of the season.
“We don’t have the luxury of people adjusting to the Premier League but I still think we can add an attacker as well. Back to front, like I said.”
The Swans have conceded 19 goals in total since Bradley took over from Francesco Guidolin, despite – or perhaps as a consequence of – the American’s changing selections.
His admission that at least one more defender is needed – likely to be a centre-back – could revive speculation that Bradley is keen to sign Steve Birnbaum, currently with DC United in the MLS.
He added: “We have to defend better in all areas. We won’t survive if we continue to concede bad goals.”
But Bradley has shrugged off speculation about his own future and is confident he will be allowed to turn around Swansea’s fortunes in the January transfer window.
Bradley has only been at Swansea for 66 days but bookmakers installed him as favourite to be the next Premier League manager fired after last weekend’s 5-0 thrashing at Tottenham and ahead of their clash at home to Sunderland on Saturday.
Asked about his own future, Bradley replied: ‘I don’t spend any time thinking about it, when you are a manager it goes with the territory. I expect it.
‘I once told my wife I had a meeting and she said ‘will you still have a job after it?’ I said ‘who knows?’
‘At any moment guys might want to make a change, but if you try and cover yourself in those ways players will spit it out so fast and see through it.
I’m pretty good at shutting down shop and sticking to what I do. Getting to the training ground early and sizing up players as they come in in the morning.
‘What’s their mentality? Is the body language good? Are they saying ‘count me in’ or are a few looking like it is wearing on them.
‘I think we are more category A than B on that, and if I am telling players look adversity in the eye and have courage then I have got to have it too.’
It has been reported that Bradley’s position is under scrutiny among the Swansea hierarchy after a difficult start in English football for the former United States manager.
But Bradley insists it has been business as usual at the Liberty Stadium this week and that he expects Swansea’s new American owners, Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien, to back the club in the transfer market next month.
‘I have every confidence Steve and Jason are ready to make moves to help us,’ Bradley said.
‘They are on top of each detail and committed to finding ways to improve. When they got involved, they knew what they were getting into.
‘They understand the work that needs to be done, there is a good feeling that we are all in this together.
‘As much as we are in the spot we don’t want to be in, we need to pull together and work our way out of it.’
Swansea have been linked with January moves for Manchester United winger Ashley Young and Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez.
But Bradley suggested there was some work to do on recruitment ahead of the transfer window.
‘At this point these are not discussions that have got very far,’ Bradley said.
‘It doesn’t mean they are not possible, but those names did not come from inside our club.
‘There are a lot of people talking and keeping cards close to your chest is a good strategy.
‘We will see. But I have confidence if we come up with the right player and he wants to come to Swansea for the challenge, then I am sure we will get him.’