The transfer window is about to open and Bob Bradley is peering out across Swansea Bay and beyond. But where to look? Helpfully, Ross Tyson is here to point the Swans manager in the right direction.

 

 

Relegation scares at Swansea are usually quickly extinguished thanks to some tika-taka football or more recently, a managerial change. However, this year it’s not just a whiff of relegation, it’s a stench so strong an industrial vat of Febreeze couldn’t cover it.

The summer transfer window was extremely disappointing for Swans fans and that, coupled with the club’s precarious position, means expectation levels and importance levels are at a maximum ahead of the winter transfer window.

Unlike the sides battling at the top, the teams at the bottom don’t need to win almost every game from January 1st, they just need to put together enough wins to ensure they are stood on the precipice rather than falling in May.

With that in mind, here are nine players who could save the Swans’ season.

 

Jay Rodriguez

 

Rewind to the spring on 2014 and Jay Rodriguez had scored 17 goals and was a shoo-in for England’s World Cup squad. A successful summer may have seen him move to one of the league’s big boys with Liverpool and Tottenham both linked. He suffered an extremely serious knee injury, however, which ruled him out of the 2014/15 season.

His return was then cut short by an ankle injury in October 2015 which ruled him out for almost the entirety of the 2015/16 season. This season he has returned to the Southampton side, but multiple signings and changes in management have forced him down the pecking order.

The player could do with a loan move to regain his form, and Swansea could certainly benefit from the tenacious, talented forward who could be deployed either up front or in the wide positions.

His record since joining Southampton is roughly three goals every ten games. Three winning goals in SA1 between January and May would be invaluable.  Charlie Austin’s recent injury will complicate any proposed deal, however.

 

Ashley Young

 

In the increasingly “internet meme and bookie banter” dominated world of Premier League football, Ashley Young’s stock has fallen, but that certainly doesn’t mean he is not a talented player. Talentless players do not rack up over 150 Manchester United first team appearances. His time at Old Trafford does seem to be coming to an end, however, and January may be the perfect time for Swansea to pounce.

Young is adept at playing on either flank as a winger or a wide midfielder, made his name playing as an attacking midfielder, and has been used in the past few seasons as a full-back. His versatility would help a fairly thin Swansea squad and his creativity from wide positions would hopefully create more chances for what has been, until recently. a lacklustre strike force. He’s a been-there-done-that pro who would bring a wealth of experience to West Wales.

 

Leanardo Ulloa

 

Swansea has expressed previous interest and January seems like a sensible time to re-visit. Swansea have been scoring more goals recently, but the more goal-getting forwards in their squad between now and May, the better. Argentine Ulloa is a goal scorer. He netted 23 League goals in his two Championship seasons with Brighton and with Leicester he found the net 11 times in his first season (which was invaluable to their survival). He then hit six during last season’s title win, including two against the Swans in April 2016, which proved decisive in clinching their Premier prize.

What makes this respectable if unspectacular tally more impressive is the fact he has often been Leicester’s second or now fourth choice striker. Islam Slimani joined Leicester in the summer, Shinji Okazaki suits their style more, and Jamie Vardy is Jamie Vardy. Swansea could try to tempt Ulloa with a clearer route to the first team and if they do his big-game mentality could help secure vital points.

 

Mamadou Sakho

 

Perhaps a dual nationality USA, UK – Remain/Clinton voter would rival him, but Mamadou Sakho has had a very bad 2016. It started well with goals in the historic victory over Borussia Dortmund and then another in the Merseyside derby, but then it turned to ash.

Sakho was (it turns out, wrongly) suspended for a drug offence which ruled him out of Liverpool’s Europa League final (loss) and then a place in France’s home EURO 2016 squad. An injury meant he travelled hurt to Liverpool’s pre-season tour where he fell out with Jurgen Klopp.

Klopp has since exiled him from Liverpool’s first team squad until he secures a loan move away from Anfield. That’s where Swansea come in.

Brush the issues above to one side and Mamadou Sakho is a strong, technically sound defender, who is a natural leader. That’s something Swansea are desperate for. Since Ashley Williams departed there has been a vacuum that has gone unfilled. Sakho will want to get back to regular Premier League football, Liverpool need to go out and play, and Swansea shouldn’t turn their nose up at a near 30-cap international who has captained Liverpool and PSG, in a position they need to strengthen.

 

John Brooks

 

O, say can you see, an American signing in January? Probably. Steve Birnbaum, the DC United defender’s name has been whispered, but if Swansea’s owners want to make a bigger statement then Hertha Berlin’s John Brooks could be the perfect signing. The 23-year-old, centre-half is a fully fledged USA international and one of the Bundesliga’s highest rated defenders.

Brooks is strong, quick, and despite his years, composed enough to already be a calming influence in a shaky Premier League backline.

Brooks, German-born, is currently at his boyhood club, Hertha Berlin and is part of their shock Champions League pursuit, so his purchase wouldn’t be easy. That said, the money in the Premier League and its stature may be difficult to turn down if Swansea were to put in a serious offer.

 

Paul-Georges Ntep

 

Rennes French international, Paul-Georges Ntep is another name doing the rounds in South Wales and would represent something of a coup for the Swans. Ntep burst onto the scene in the 2014/15 season, scoring nine league goals and making seven assists in 35 appearances.

Those stats combined with his cheetah-esque speed caught the attention of some of the biggest names across Europe. The 2015/16 season was disrupted by injury, but Ntep still managed to score twice and set up three in only 14 appearances. This season Ntep is showing signs of recuperating his form and fitness, having set up five goals and scored his first goal earlier this month.

His stock is perhaps lower now than it has been in the past, making him an attainable target for Bob Bradley. Like Modou Barrow and Jefferson Montero, his pace will be an automatic worry for Premier League full-backs and if he can produce even a couple of match-winning performances his signing would be worthwhile.

It’s not all about new purchases, however, as there are players currently registered in Swansea’s Premier League squad who could emerge as heroes.  Could the three players below save their season?

 

Fernando Llorente 

 

A World Cup winner, and at times one of the most coveted forwards in Europe seemed like a false advertisement for Fernando Llorente in the autumn, but since the advent calendars have been opened he’s been on fire. He scored twice in the frankly ludicrous 5-4 victory against Crystal Palace and after curiously being denied a start against Spurs, went on to score twice in the 3-0 victory over Sunderland.

Llorente, may not be able to keep up his current record of four in three, but a few more match-winning braces and Llorente will rival Bony, Michu and Danny Graham as the Swans most important Premier League poacher.

 

Jefferson Montero

 

Using only YouTube compilations, you could convince yourself that Jefferson Montero is one of the planet’s most dangerous attackers, but unfortunately for Bob Bradley and those F2 Football Freestylers, YouTube isn’t the be-all and end-all.

Montero is extremely fast, an agile dribbler, and is capable of turning full-backs to flumps. Ask Branislav Ivanovic. Montero was directly involved in a goal for the first time this seasonagainst Sunderland – setting up the aforementioned Llorente to put the game beyond the Black Cats.

This double act, if regularly firing, can create and score more than enough to ensure another year of top-flight football in South Wales

 

Oliver McBurnie

 

Perhaps the most “out there” suggestion, but Scottish youth international Oliver McBurnie has the tools to haul Swansea to safety. He burst onto the scene last year – scoring a hat-trick from the bench on loan debut at Newport County. He’s not had a huge deal of first team football for Swansea, but did score twice, and set up one for the senior side, during a 3-1 League cup victory over Peterborough. He’s also been in fine form for the U23 side. He is a goalscorer.

It’s a big leap up from the level he’s playing at, but as Marcus Rashford proved in February at Old Trafford, taking a chance on youth can pay off. A similar fairytale in South Wales is possible and as the games come thick and fast, Bob Bradley may have to consider the words, “Once upon a time…”

 

Can the Swans stay up? Who would you target if you were in charge? Let us know below or on Twitter and Facebook.