Swansea add Tabanou to excellent Ayew capture
Swansea City (28/1 to win the 2015/16 Capital One Cup) just keep making smart moves in the transfer market and continue to top their recent record breaking season in style with some exciting additions, as Garry Monk looks to build on his success with the Welsh club.
Their latest incoming talent is St-Etienne left back Franck Tabanou, who has become the Swans’ second signing of the summer, for an undisclosed fee believed to be upwards of £3m.
The 26-year-old French defender has made over 80 appearances for Les Verts, and is tipped to provide stern competition for Neil Taylor down the left defensive flank.
Swansea’s stubborn defence, which helped the Liberty Stadium side to memorable scalps, including a double against Manchester United, and a best-ever eighth place finish, will be tough to break in to, but adding much-needed depth should thrill Swans fans ahead of next season.
Indeed, Monk’s men now appear to be a tempting project to promising European players, with Tabanou’s agent Philipe Lamboley stating: “Tabanou has chosen Swansea, he has told me he is not interested in any other offers from any other clubs.”
The French full back, who follows another St-Etienne old boy in striker Bafetimbi Gomis to Swansea, is not the only Ligue 1 star to have been lured to the Liberty during this off-season, with former Marseille attacker Andre Ayew an impending bosman addition once the transfer window officially re-opens.
Guileful and powerful Ghana international Ayew will bring pace and strength alongside, or in support of, Gomis, with the versatile 25-year-old attacker agreeing a four-year contract with Monk’s side.
Ayew looks to be a real steal, with the Swans (66/1 for a Premier League top four finish in 2015/16) lacking firepower since Ivory Coast hitman Wilfried Bony departed for Manchester City in January. Gomis eventually stepped up, with midfielders Gylfi Sigurdsson and Ki Sung-Yueng also chipping in with goals, though Ayew can now help shoulder the creative burden.
Swansea captain Ashley Williams welcomed the news recently, highlighting the importance of such a coup by stating: “It’s a big signing…It shows that the club is going in the right direction again.”
View Ayew’s highlights:
Sweden stopper Kristoffer Nordfelt is also close to a switch from Dutch club Heerenveen, with a fee for the 25-year-old reportedly agreed, yet personal terms are supposedly still to be ironed out.
Swansea, then, certainly appear to be moving swiftly, though are said to be ready to abandon their chase for Aleksandar Mitrovic, as the Anderlecht and Serbia predator’s apparent £12m asking price is deemed too high.
Another outright forward looks to be a necessity if the Swans are to improve on their previous campaign and take a tilt at a Europa League spot. With Premier League champions Chelsea their opponents on the opening day too, a little extra attacking impetus would not go amiss.
Swansea playmaker Jonjo Shelvey, meanwhile, could be one name that departs the Welsh club, with Tottenham said to be circling. The former Charlton Athletic and Liverpool midfield schemer has shown he can turn games for the Swans, but has also come under criticism for on-field disciplinary issues.
At 23, the London-born star may be worth keeping the faith with for at least one more season, yet, should a lucrative offer arrive from Spurs, the savvy Swans may well decide to cut their losses and use the funds to continue with what looks to be a smart recruitment policy.
