Swansea City are being linked with Aston Villa’s Jordan Ayew, Barnsley’s Marc Roberts and free agent Diego Poyet as they try to tie up a deal for Benfica defender Lisandro Ezequiel Lopez.

With the transfer window due to close at 11pm on Tuesday, it could prove a busy final few hours for the club with Neil Taylor likely to move on.

Head coach Paul Clement is attempting to secure a deal for centre-back Lopez, a 27-year-old who has struggled for appearances at the Portuguese club this season.

That deal is likely to be a loan and would unite Lopez with his fellow Argentinian international Federico Fernandez.

It has also been reported that the Swans are keen to swap Wales defender Taylor, currently out with a fractured cheekbone, for Villa striker Ayew, brother of former Swan Andre who left the club last summer.

Clement’s hope to improve his squad’s defensive strength has also seem them linked with Roberts, 26, another centre-back and a former teammate of current Swan Alfie Mawson, who moved from Oakwell last summer.

West Ham and Burnley are also said to be interested in Roberts, while the Swans are also reported to be keen to fight with Hull City to sign Poyet.

A 21-year-old midfielder, Poyet – the son of former Chelsea star turned manager Gus – is a free agent after being released by West Ham last season.

Clement has so far signed full-back Martin Olsson from Norwich City for £4m as well as Luciano Narsingh from PSV Eindhoven for £5m.

Narsingh is set to make his Swans debut at home to Southampton on Tuesday night as the club seek to continue their move away from the relegation zone.