Tonight's Swansea City transfer news as rivals enter race for target and Modric set for Milan medical
Tonight's Swansea City transfer news as rivals enter race for target and Modric set for Milan medical
These are the Swansea City stories making headlines on Thursday, June 12.
Lewis O'Brien of Nottingham Forest
(Image:)
These are your Swansea City headlines on Thursday, June 12.
Hull enter O'Brien race
Hull City are keen on trying to lure Lewis O'Brien to Humberside this summer, report our colleagues at Hull Live.
O'Brien was a huge hit in south Wales last season, spending the second half of the campaign here on loan from Premier League side Nottingham Forest.
Swans chief Richard Montague confirmed the club were in dialogue with the east Midlands outfit.
"We have had good conversations with Forest," he told WalesOnline. "They were really good to deal with last season, they sent us a really nice message to thank us for how well Lewis did with us, which was great to receive.
"We have a good dialogue with them. The ball is a little bit in their court at the moment because of Lewis' contract situation. He is on a Premier League salary and there needs to be some give in some sense to make it work for us.
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"But it's definitely an option that's still on the table.
"We are talking to Lewis and having good conversations with Forest. We would love to be able to do something. It's just timing and matching it all up with the financial realities."
Swansea now face competition from the Tigers, who have tried to sign him before, as well as clubs on the continent for O'Brien's signature. Sign up to the Swansea City WhatsApp service to get breaking news and top stories sent to your phone
Modric agrees move
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reports Luka Modric will complete his move to European giants AC Milan after Real Madrid's involvement at the Club World Cup.
It was revealed last month that Swansea investor Modric's time in the Spanish capital was over after a trophy-laden period with Los Blancos.
He will prolong his playing career with a move to the red half of Milan after Madrid's campaign in the Club World Cup comes to an end.
Romano reported on Thursday: "Luka Modrić to undergo medical and complete formal steps of AC Milan move after the Club World Cup. No signature/official steps before that as Modrić wants to focus on Real Madrid at the best level possible until the end."
Congreve sets target
Cameron Congreve is determined to make a first-team breakthrough this season after a successful loan spell.
Congreve, 21, is hoping to take the confidence and form during his loan spell with Bromley to challenge for minutes under Alan Sheehan.
He has returned to the Swansea.com Stadium after a productive stay in League Two, which saw the Ravens finish in an impressive 11th place in the standings. Sign up to our Swansea City newsletter here.
Congreve played a key role in the club's success, chipping in with six goals and seven assists throughout the season, including a memorable strike against Newcastle United in the FA Cup at St James' Park.
"It was amazing. The lads were quality, the gaffer and the staff were quality from day one. They welcomed me with open arms, and I loved my time there," said Congreve.
"I'm glad I could contribute. We probably fell a bit short at the end, and we could have pushed for play-offs, but it was a solid first full season in the EFL.
"Consistency is really important, and that's what every player wants. When you can keep building up the minutes, the performances week-in, week-out, it's important.
"I probably had a bit of a stop-start period in my career, but hopefully now I can continue the momentum and consistency of playing continuously.
"We had quite a nice blend of more senior lads and younger lads. The senior lads really did help in the changing room.
"The Newcastle goal was amazing, I didn't know I scored at first, the celebrations were nuts, it was an amazing feeling."
The aim now is to break into Sheehan's squad for the 2025/26 season. "I think pre-season is massive for me. Coming back after being on loan, you want to show everyone what you've learnt, and show the gaffer and the staff the experience I've gained," he added.
"I want to get myself into the squad for the first game of the season, and I would love to contribute goals and assists, and hopefully, this pre-season can help massively."
Davies returns to club
Earlier on this week, Swansea confirmed the return of Ryan Davies to the club as academy manager.
Davies, who will start his new position from August 1, returns to the club after roles in recruitment and the NHS.
He previously worked within the academy set up from 2012 and 2014, helping in the development of players such as Ben Cabango, Ollie Cooper, Liam Cullen, Connor Roberts and Josh Sheehan.
Davies said: 'I am delighted and extremely proud to be given the opportunity to return to the club and lead Swansea City's academy.
'Being able to represent my hometown club and local community is a huge privilege, and witnessing the growth of the academy over the last decade and more has been incredible.
'As a club we have a proud track record of producing talented young players capable of featuring at senior club and international levels, and that is one we are very keen to continue.
'After speaking to (chief executive) Tom Gorringe and (director of football) Richard Montague, and hearing their vision, it was an easy decision to rej-oin a club that is so close to my heart.
'I cannot wait to get started and try and continue to drive our academy, and ensure our supporters continue to be able to chant 'he's one of our own' by producing talent that can thrive at first-team level.'
Chief executive Tom Gorringe added: 'We are delighted to be able to welcome Ryan back to Swansea City.
'During our conversations with him his tremendous passion for this club, and particularly our academy, shone through.
'He boasts a wide range of experiences from his previous time with us, and that means he has a great perspective on how the academy operates.
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'Ryan was the outstanding candidate for this role and it gives us great pleasure to bring him home. We look forward to him joining us and getting down to work.
'I would also like to place on record our thanks to Rebecca Gigg, another person who knows our club and academy inside out, for taking on leadership of the academy in the interim.'
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