Winter window manifesto for Swansea City season resurgence
Lee Gormley | December 30, 2015
Swansea seek 2016 revival
After struggling in the first-half of the Premier League campaign, Swansea City will need to rediscover former form and fortunes in order to enjoy a successful season resurgence in 2016, with the January transfer window potentially a key aspect in deciding their fate.
With the sacking of Garry Monk occurring towards the end of 2015, the Welsh outfit are in need of a huge domestic lift, and whoever is chosen to take their place at the Liberty Stadium helm will possess a tough task, as the club are currently 7/2 with Coral for relegation.
After years of dazzling the top-flight with their astute attacking approach, Swansea now find themselves on the cusp of a disastrous drop down divisions if things cannot be resolved swiftly. So what do they need in the January transfer window?
Attacking reinforcements required
Caretaker coach Alan Curtis recently confirmed that the Swans will seek to boost their stuttering strikeforce in the winter window in order to make an escape from the thick of a relegation battle.
“We’re searching for a striker,” stated Curtis. “Everybody is looking for players who can improve the squad and improve the team.”
The Welsh side are one of the lowest scorers in this season’s Premier League, and it’s their hapless form in front of goal which is damaging any hopes of avoiding a drop to the Championship.
Charlie Austin has long been linked with a move away from QPR, and the Swans could test the Championship club’s resolve with an offer in January for their rampant English marksman.
The Hoops hitman would undoubtedly add the necessary firepower needed in Swansea’s stumbling squad, but they will likely face competition from the likes of Newcastle United and Aston Villa for his signature.
Swansea have clearly been lacking in the forward department since the departure of former Spanish frontman Michu, with Wilfried Bony having also left for new adventures with Manchester City, and Bafetimbi Gomis struggles to carry the lonely goalscoring burden.
An alternative for Austin, if a South American coach like Marcelo Bielsa is appointed, could be Paraguay’s Lorenzo Melgarejo, with the 25-year-old forward having been previously linked to Liverpool.
Defence needs a boost
As well as struggles up front, the rearguard hasn’t been much better, with Swansea relying heavily on gallant Wales international centre back and club skipper Ashley Williams in their backline.
However, with the Welshman’s heroics in recent top tier campaigns and Euro 2016 beckoning next summer, he may be tempted into a switch elsewhere in the Premier League. Such a move would be a potentially fatal blow to the Swans.
A new centre back will probably be a priority in January, maybe to assist Williams and Federico Fernandez or to replace the captain if a top-flight side comes in for the Welshman.
Whether Williams does depart or not, a potential swoop for Tottenham’s Federico Fazio would possibly provide a welcomed boost, partnering fellow Argentine Fernandez in the heart of defence.
Swansea are well adrift of the previous heights they reached under now-dismissed Monk and are 20/1 for a miraculous top 10 finish this term.
If fortunes are to change then much business is required in January, but it’s unclear who will be the man doing such dealings in the market as yet, leaving the Welsh club in a cloud of uncertainty.
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