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BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
What do Killie need in transfer window?
The transfer window opened on Sunday - albeit for 10 days initially, mainly so sides competing in the Club World Cup can get early business done - before reopening for the rest of the summer on 16 there certain players you are desperate for Kilmarnock to sign, or a particular area of the squad that needs improving?Or maybe holding on to a key player is your biggest priority? And what about departures - Bobby Wales and Innes Cameron have moved on, but are there are others who need to go?We want your take on what business Killie must do this us know here
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
The seven Swansea City players facing uncertain futures this summer
The seven Swansea City players facing uncertain futures this summer There are question marks hanging over several Swans stars this summer Jerry Yates is one of several players whose future appears up in the air this summer (Image: 2024 Getty Images ) Swansea City's transfer window is already up and running, with three new faces already coming through the door this summer. Kilmarnock forward Bobby Wales is the latest to have been brought on board, following on from the capture of Swedish winger Zeidane Inoussa. Melker Widell, technically not a 'new' signing given the deal to bring him to the club was completed in January, is also set to meet up with his new team-mates for the first time. A fair amount of cautious excitement is now starting build within the Jack Army about what the upcoming campaign may hold, particularly after what was a strong end to the last campaign under Alan Sheehan. Sign up to the Swansea City WhatsApp service to get breaking news and top stories sent to your phone Many will feel there's still some work to be done before the first ball is kicked in August, with several areas of the squad clearly in need of strengthening. However, a few players could well be moving in the opposite direction. Harry Darling's future has obviously become a big talking point already this summer, with the centre-back yet to make a decision over his next move following the expiration of his contract. Article continues below However, he's not the only player who could be facing something of an uncertain future. Mykola Kuharevich The Ukrainian spent last season on loan at Scottish side Hibernian, where he netted seven goals in 28 games in all competitions, and appears keen to turn his stay in the green half of Edinburgh into a permanent one. With just one year left on his current contract, it seems likely the Swans will listen to offers for the 23-year-old this summer. Commenting on his future Kuharevich said recently: "I would consider this opportunity to return to Hibs again if it happens, because I am fully adapted to the team. "And, of course, there is a great excitement to feel the taste of European football together with the club and fans, from whom I have constantly experienced crazy support. "But I have a current contract with Swansea, so I am happy to spend the next season there too. "The plan now is to rest, and after returning to work and the pre-season training camp, time will tell where I end up." Jerry Yates A very similar situation to the above really. The 28-year-old spent last season out on loan at Derby County, where he scored 10 goals in 42 league outings, and his success there had understandably sparked questions over whether he might make his stay at the Rams permanent. Paul Warne was understood to be keen on exploring the possibility of a deal. But his departure, and the arrival of John Eustace, has clearly complicated the landscape. "I think Jerry has done very well - that is something we will discuss at the end of the year," Eustace said when quizzed on the forward back in April. It appears there still hasn't yet been a decision over his future, although one suspects that Swansea would be tempted to cash in should they receive the right offer. Reports earlier this month have suggested a few clubs might be circling, including Blackburn Rovers, Hull City and QPR, while there's also believed to be interest from the MLS. Andy Fisher Another player returning from a loan spell, the 27-year-old, who has one year left on his current deal, is poised to return from a short spell at Scottish side St Johnstone this summer. Fisher played 18 games for the Saints last term, having seen his hopes of first-team football with the Swans curtailed by a groin injury in pre-season, and it seems unlikely he'll be overtaking Lawrence Vigouroux for the number one jersey any time soon. As such, there are real questions marks over what may lie ahead, although the lack of real depth in goalkeeping options in light of Jon McLaughlin's departure means he may yet stick around. However, if Swansea can bringing another stopper in this summer, it would surely push him closer to the exit. Florian Bianchini The French winger only signed for the club last summer, but has largely struggled to get up to speed with the Championship. A few games in a more central role did appear to hint at an upturn in form, but the 23-year-old has still mustered up just three goals in a Swans shirt. What's more, he made just eight league starts last term, and played just 80 minutes in the 13 games overseen by Sheehan. Swansea shelled out just over £2m for him last year, and his current deal at the club is set to run until 2028, and those points alone may well see him earn another chance. But one suspects a tidy offer would be welcomed. A loan spell away is another possible option, of course. Jay Fulton The midfielder has already been tipped as a possible target for Plymouth Argyle this summer, and with one year left on his current deal, it's entirely plausible that Swansea might earmark the Scot as someone they can potentially make a bit of cash on. Fulton started just 13 games in the league last season, and is still seen as a solid squad player by those on the inside. He's also been a superb servant to the club over the years, but it's difficult to envisage a time next term where he's a considered a real first-choice option. Sign up to our Swansea City newsletter here. At 31, and having been with the club for seven years, now might well be seen as the best time for a new chapter. Goncalo Franco One that Swans fans will absolutely not want to happen. As things stand, there's no reason to believe that Franco will be moving on from before the close of the window, and the player himself is understood to be happy with the Swans. Article continues below But after such an impressive debut season in the Championship, it was perhaps inevitable he would catch the eye of potential suitors elsewhere. Sources in Portugal have indicated to WalesOnline that a few clubs are already asking about the 24-year-old, with sides from England, Germany and, of course, the player's homeland, all believed to be keeping tabs. Swansea are understandably keen to keep him on board, but it's perfectly possible that their resolve could be tested before the summer is out.
Wales Online
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
The Championship free agents Swansea City could sign right now as retained lists confirmed
The Championship free agents Swansea City could sign right now as retained lists confirmed There are a number of players who could be available for nothing this summer Former Swans midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is one of a number of players without a club this summer (Image: Getty Images ) Swansea City have already made some moves in the summer transfer window, but there's plenty of work still to be done this summer. The captures of Bobby Wales and Zeidane Inoussa have hopefully set the tone for what will be an important summer for the club as Alan Sheehan looks to plot out his opening campaign as Swans boss. Both players join the incoming January signing Melker Widell, and there's likely to be more new faces coming through the door over the coming weeks. Sign up to the Swansea City WhatsApp service to get breaking news and top stories sent to your phone However, director of football Richard Montague has already stated that the the Swans will likely have to be creative in the way they approach the market, which means they could well be casting an eye over players who come into the summer without a club. A number of players from across the Championship, and indeed the two promoted sides from League One, have bid farewell to several first-team stars following the release of their customary retained lists. Here's a rundown of every retained list so far. Article continues below Blackburn Rovers Released: Adam Forshaw (midfielder), Jordan Eastham (goalkeeper) In talks: Danny Batth (centre-back), Andi Weimann (midfielder), Tyrhys Dolan (winger) Bristol City Released: Stefan Bajic (goalkeeper), Ayman Benarous (midfielder), Kal Naismith (centre-back) In talks: Nahki Wells (striker), Lewis Thomas (goalkeeper) Burnley Released: Nathan Redmond (winger), Jonjo Shelvey (midfielder) In talks: Ashley Barnes (striker), Josh Brownhill (midfielder), CJ Egan-Riley (centre-back) Cardiff City TBC Coventry City TBC Derby County Released: Tom Barkhuizen (forward), Sonny Bradley (centre-back), Tyrese Fornah (midfielder), Jeff Hendrick (midfielder), Rohan Luthra (goalkeeper), Erik Pieters (defender), Kemar Roofe (forward), Conor Washington (striker) In talks: Craig Forsyth (defender), Liam Thompson (midfielder) Hull City Released: Brandon Fleming (left-back), Callum Jones (midfielder), Nordin Amrabat (forward), Dogukan Sinik (forward) Leeds United Released: Josuha Guilavogui (midfielder) In talks: Junior Firpo (left-back), Joe Rothwell (midfielder) Luton Town Released: Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (midfielder), Amari'i Bell (left-back), Tim Krul (goalkeeper), Jameson Horlick (goalkeeper), Victor Moses (winger), Dion Pereira (winger) Middlesbrough Released: Anfernee Dijksteel (right-back) In talks: Jonny Howson (midfielder) Millwall Released: Shaun Hutchinson (centre-back), Murray Wallace (left-back), Duncan Watmore (winger), Aaron Connolly (striker) In talks: George Saville (midfielder), George Honeyman (midfielder), Danny McNamara (right-back), Liam Roberts (goalkeeper), George Evans (goalkeeper) Norwich City Released: Angus Gunn (goalkeeper), Onel Hernandez (winger), Jacob Sorensen (midfielder), Jonathan Tomkinson (centre-back), Archie Mair (goalkeeper), Lewis Shipley (centre-back), Tom Finch (goalkeeper), Adian Manning (midfielder), Ellis Craven (goalkeeper), Daniel Ogwuru (striker), Alfie Doy (centre-back), Alex Roberts (striker), Gabriel Keita (centre-back), Kingston Simbai (right-back) In talks: Lewis Dobbin (winger, Aston Villa loan) Oxford United Released: Josh McEachran (midfielder), Joe Bennett (left-back), Max Woltman (forward), Eddie Brearey (goalkeeper), George Franklin (midfielder) In talks: Matt Ingram (goalkeeper) Plymouth Argyle Released: Ben Waine (striker), Saxon Earley (left-back), Will Jenkins Davies (midfielder), Josh Bernard (midfielder), Mustapha Bundu (striker) In talks: Jordan Houghton (midfielder), Jack Matthews (centre-back) Portsmouth Released: Cohen Bramall (left-back), Tom Lowery (midfielder), Alexander Milošević (centre-back), Anthony Scully (striker) and Kusini Yengi (striker) Preston North End Released: Emil Riis (striker), Freddie Woodman (goalkeeper), Kian Best (defender), Kian Taylor (defender/midfielder), Patrick Bauer (centre-back), Ryan Ledson (midfielder) In talks: Ched Evans (striker, coaching role), Josh Seary (right-back), Kacper Pasiek (left-back), Robbie Brady (winger) Queens Park Rangers TBC Sheffield United TBC Sheffield Wednesday Released: Stuart Armstrong (midfielder), Ben Hamer (goalkeeper), Ryo Hatsuse (left-back), Michael Ihiekwe (centre-back), Marvin Johnson (winger), Pol Valentin (right-back), Mallik Wilks (winger) In talks: Barry Bannan (midfielder), Akin Famewo (centre-back), Callum Paterson (forward) Stoke City Released: Jordan Thompson (midfielder), Lynden Gooch (full-back/winger), Michael Rose (centre-back), Enda Stevens (left-back) Sunderland TBC West Bromwich Albion Released: Semi Ajayi (centre-back) Grady Diangana (midfielder) John Swift (midfielder) Sign up to our Swansea City newsletter here. Wrexham Released: Steven Fletcher (striker), Mark Howard (goalkeeper), Jordan Davies (midfielder), Brad Foster (goalkeeper), Sam Dalby (striker) Birmingham City Article continues below Released: Grant Hanley (centre-back) and Lee Myung-Jae (left-back) Retired: Lukas Jutkiewicz (striker)
Wales Online
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Swansea City's new signing exploded on to the scene and could be 'very exciting' as rivals' interest revealed
Swansea City's new signing exploded on to the scene and could be 'very exciting' as rivals' interest revealed The Swans have completed a move for Scottish youngster Bobby Wales Bobby Wales joins Swansea on the back of a breakout season for Kilmarnock (Image: Getty Images ) It's felt hugely refreshing to see Swansea City moving so early in transfer window, particularly in the context of so many chaotic, frantic, and ultimately disappointing recruitment drives at SA1 in recent years. There's still a fair amount of work ahead, of course, and there's likely to be plenty of twists and turns over the coming months. But the mood heading into the summer is an undeniably positive one right now, with Alan Sheehan already set to welcome three new faces into the building ahead of the new season. Sign up to the Swansea City WhatsApp service to get breaking news and top stories sent to your phone With Melker Widell already set to come on board, Swansea clinched a deal for Swedish winger Zeidane Inoussa a couple of weeks ago. Now, Scottish youngster Bobby Wales has also been confirmed as the latest to come through the door. The teenager is set to run down his contract at current club Kilmarnock, and has signed a four-year deal with the Swans, which will kick in from June 1. The 19-year-old is currently one of Scottish football's brightest young prospects. Indeed, after making his debut for his boyhood club in 2022, last season was something of a breakout campaign for the forward, who racked up 34 appearances in all competitions, netting five goals. Article continues below Wales said his goodbyes to the club on Sunday in the final-day defeat to Hearts, and there are already plenty backing him for a bright future. 'We look forward to working with him, developing him further in his all-round game, and hopefully helping him fulfil his potential," said boss Alan Sheehan when reacting to news of his imminent arrival "We believe he has the potential to develop into an important player for Swansea City," added director of football Richard Montague. While potentially capable of bringing something to the first team table from the off, Wales is likely to be something of a project signing. A player that's perhaps going to need a bit of time to develop, and get used to the rigours of the Championship, of course. Callum Carson, sports writer at the Daily Record, certainly believes there's still some way for him to go in terms of his journey. "I'd be surprised if he's an immediate starter at that level," he tells WalesOnline. "He's just quite raw. I know that's quite a hard thing to necessarily define, but he's a player that can often drift in and out of games, so I guess you're looking for a bit more consistency just in terms of his actions in terms of him being that focal point. "He can struggle against more experienced centre-backs, so he needs to learn the intelligent side of the game. He has a lot of natural ability, but whether he has that deep understanding of how to be a number nine, I'm not so sure about yet." Whether Wales will actually be a number nine at all, is something of a debate in itself. "We're still not quite sure what he is," Carson adds. "When he was only getting 10 or 15 minutes off the bench in the first half of the season, Derek McInnes would regularly say that he wasn't a number nine, and I understand why because he's not that typical sort of target man with a bulky presence that's good in the air or what not. "But he can hold off defenders, he's got good feet and he's a natural finisher. I would class him more as an attacker rather than a number nine at this point. But I would imagine with growth and experience, maybe even bulking up a bit, a number nine could be his future certainly." Wherever Wales plays, the youngster's raw potential has earned him a fair number of accolades in recent months, including Kilmarnock's Young Player of the Season award. "He's a local boy and there's obviously nothing football fans love more than a local boy coming through the academy and coming good," Carson continues. "He won Goal of the Month for February with his goal against St Johnstone. That goal is the ultimate example of how good a finisher he is. "His first goal for the club was actually a 90th-minute equaliser in Europe at home, and that got a lot of fans on side and thinking he could be something special. "He was shortlisted for Football Writers' Player of the Year and he's got himself in the Scotland under-21s team, so he's definitely stepped up this season. If he can keep up that trajectory he could be very exciting." Wales was given a positive reception when he was substituted off after 65 minutes in his last appearance at Rugby Park, and Carson believes many supporters have respected the youngster's decision to move on. "There's a bit of disappointment, but I think most fans are pragmatic enough to know that it was a very difficult move to turn down. I think the general feeling is that he's leaving with best wishes." The step up to Championship level is clearly going to be a challenge, but Swansea were not the only second tier side to take an interest in Wales this summer. Sign up to our Swansea City newsletter here "There were a few Championship clubs that were in for him," Carson claims. "I heard Hull City were one of them. Plymouth were another. Funnily enough the Plymouth manager, Miron Muslic, was the manager at Cercle Brugge when Kilmarnock played them. I don't think Bobby actually played in either of those games, but that might have been a link he kept an eye on. "But it seemed like Swansea was the obvious choice for him." It remains to be seen just how Swansea handle him over the coming campaign. A four-year deal suggests they really believe in the forward's abilities, and those that have watched him week in, week out believe the tools are there for him to truly establish himself in the Championship - although it may take some time. Article continues below "Certainly talking to folks at Kilmarnock and his team-mates, they all rate him highly," Carson adds. "They definitely believe there's a lot of room for him to kick on. "There's always that feeling that you're not really a footballer until you've played 100 games. He's going to be around better players, better facilities and so on. He's got the raw ability, though, to go on to another level and establish himself at the higher end of the Championship. "I don't know how long it will take him to get there, it might take a couple of years. But he has the talent to get there."
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kilmarnock kid Bobby Wales set for Swansea City move
The 19-year-old will join the Welsh club when his Killie contract expires Kilmarnock striker Bobby Wales will leave the club for English Championship outfit Swansea City when his contract expires at the end of the month. The 19-year-old has earned plaudits during his first campaign of regular first-team football at Rugby Park, which has seen become a regular for Scotland's under-21s while he was also shortlisted for the Scottish Football Writers' Association Young Player of the Year award. A compensation package, believed to be around £300,000, has been agreed between the clubs with Wales eyeing up first team football in the English second tier. Wales, who bagged 12 goals during a loan spell at League One Alloa Athletic prior to becoming a first team feature for Killie this term. Overall, he made 44 appearances for his local club, netting five times.
