Latest news with #HarryDarling
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Swans aim to avoid another Darling situation
Director of football Richard Montague says Swansea City will attempt to avoid another Harry Darling situation in the future by ensuring the club's key players do not run down their Darling is attracting interest from a host of Championship clubs this summer, partly because he is available on a free tried to persuade Darling to sign a new deal – and their offer remains on the table – but former boss Luke Williams suggested the club should have made an earlier attempt to tie the former MK Dons player is not the first Swansea player in recent seasons to see his contract come to an end – and Montague accepts the club must look to avoid similar scenarios in the future."We want to keep our best players and we don't want to get in the situation where those players can do what Harry has been able to do, which is brilliant for Harry but less good for us as a club," he said. "We want to avoid that as much as possible. That is going to be a key focus going forward, either deciding on when is the right time to cash in on an asset and when is the right time to extend someone's contract, either to grow with us or become an even stronger asset for us."I can understand why situations develop but we have to do our best to try to avoid them."Josh Tymon and Josh Key were two of Swansea's star performers in 2024-25 and are among the club's most saleable two full-backs see their current deals expire next summer, although there club have the option of extending both those contracts by a further 12 asked whether Tymon and Key's contract situations should be addressed sooner rather than later, Montague added: "We will absolutely be talking to those guys as the season begins, in pre-season as well, but we haven't had any conversations yet."
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
10 players Rangers could look to sign now Russell Martin is confirmed as new manager at Ibrox
1 . Harry Darling - Swansea City Perhaps the most obvious signing for Russell Martin is the appointment due to his history with the centre-back. Out of contract at the Welsh club, he's been signed by him at both MK Dons and Swansea City, and fits Martin's style of play perfectly. The 39-year-old head coach has said Darling "possesses all the attributes you need to play at the very top, in my opinion", while the defender himself has given his former boss praise, stating that he "loves working with him." | Getty Images
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
New Rangers boss Russell Martin already looking to English leagues for defensive reinforcements with two centre-backs targeted and another on the way out of Ibrox
Rangers are weighing up moves for defensive duo Harry Darling and Conor Coady, with Robin Propper set to depart Ibrox after just one season. New boss Russell Martin is keen to revamp the squad and make some additions ahead of the Rangers players reporting back for pre-season in just over a fortnight. A 25-year-old centre-back who is being chased by a host of clubs in the English Championship, Darling looks likely to leave Swansea City on a free transfer after turning down a new contract. Martin has signed Darling twice previously, firstly at MK Dons and then again at Swansea, and could now look to make it a third time at Rangers. While facing competition from the likes of Norwich City and Sheffield United among several others, Rangers are hopeful that Martin's personal relationship with the player could yet swing things in their favour. Rangers are also tracking the availability of Leicester City 's Coady, a 32-year-old centre-back who won 10 caps for England earlier in his career. A product of the Liverpool youth academy, Coady played the bulk of his football at Wolves and was a key figure in helping to establish them in the Premier League. He has since gone on to have a spell at Everton, where he was signed by Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell, and latterly at Leicester. Coady still has another year to run on his contract, but Leicester are expected to revamp their squad following relegation to the Championship. Rangers are tracking his progress and it's believed that Martin is a big admirer of Coady's leadership qualities. The push for more defensive reinforcements comes as Propper is closing in on a return to Holland after just one season in Glasgow. The 31-year-old Dutchman endured a poor season and never convinced following his £2.5million move from Twente last summer. Rangers will inevitably have to take a hit on that investment and are unlikely to recoup the fee, with a return to Twente the most likely destination for Propper at this point. Martin is reluctant to close the door on any player before he's had a chance to assess them in pre-season and Ben Davies is likely to be offered a chance to resurrect his Rangers career.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Swans eye defenders as Norwich join Darling chase
Swansea City have lined up potential replacements for Harry Darling with Norwich City emerging as contenders to sign the out-of-contract defender.A number of Championship clubs are believed to have expressed an interest in centre-back Darling this summer, including Birmingham City, Wrexham and Sheffield it could be that Norwich win the race for the 25-year-old's signature following this week's appointment of Liam Manning as head coach.A move to Norwich would see Darling reunite with Manning, who he worked with at MK Dons, while the Cambridge-born player would also be moving closer to still has the option of signing the new deal on offer at Swansea. But amid the uncertainty over the player's plans, director of football Richard Montague says the Welsh club are also considering alternative defensive options."The ball is very much in Harry's court," Montague said."We made him what we thought was a very strong offer and I believe what he would think is a very strong offer."We are, and have been throughout the whole period, looking at our other options in that position to make sure we are well covered. "Our job really has been to balance off the chances of Harry signing a contract with other players, trying to match up those timelines to make sure we are not caught short. I don't think we are going to be caught short is what I would say."Darling has made 112 appearances, scoring 12 goals, since joining Swansea from MK Dons in 2024-25 season was his most consistent in Wales, with Swansea – belatedly in the eyes of then boss Luke Williams - opening contract talks in the Swans made an improved offer to Darling in the final stages of the 2024-25 season, but Montague says he "wouldn't say with any confidence" where the player will be come pre-season."If Harry Darling chooses to leave, he is an exceptional Championship defender, but we need to be able to back ourselves to find alternative options in that position," Montague added."I would like to think regardless of the outcome there, we can finish as a stronger unit than when we went into the window." Santos' arrival 'will elevate the group' Swansea are to bolster their defensive options with the signing of Ricardo Santos, the former Bolton Wanderers captain who is a free agent after being released by the League One club at the end of last says Santos, 29, is a player who has long been admired by a number of Swansea's decision-makers."His data over the years has been very strong," he said."I think it's fair to say he didn't have the best year last year, but our job is to try to look beyond that and ascertain where there might be value for money in bringing a player in."Rico is being brought in as a player who adds some more leadership, having been a captain of his club. He is a brilliant character we have all met and had conversations with."We think he is someone who can add really good depth to an area of the pitch where we don't have much depth at all at the moment. We think he will elevate the group by virtue of being who he is, being who he is around the building."Montague, meanwhile, has dismissed speculation linking Swansea with FC Sion defender Gora Diouf.
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Swansea City chief delivers Harry Darling contract update as Norwich City enter race
Swansea City chief delivers Harry Darling contract update as Norwich City enter race Swansea City defender Harry Darling is out of contract in SA1 this summer Swansea City chief Richard Montague (Image: Swansea City AFC ) Director of football Richard Montague says Swansea City remain hopeful Harry Darling will sign a new deal with the club - but admits they are planning for the possibility of an exit this summer. Darling is coming to the end of his current deal with the Swans, and recently received an improved offer from the club, who are clearly keen on keeping him at the Stadium. Norwich City are now understood to be admirers of the centre-back, while Sheffield United, Wrexham and Birmingham City are all believed to have been monitoring developments closely this summer. Reports in Scotland have also now claimed that former boss Russel Martin might be tempted to make a move for the 25-year-old, who's yet to offer any indication over where his future may now lie. Montague admits he's not sure what will come next, but says there are plans in place in regards to searching for alternatives, which perhaps suggests confidence of striking a deal could now be waning. 'The ball is very much in Harry's court," Montague said. "We made him what we thought was a very strong offer and I believe he would think is a very strong offer. Article continues below 'We are, and have been throughout the whole period, looking at our other options in that position to make sure we are well covered. 'Our job really has been to balance off the chances of Harry signing a contract with other players, trying to match up those timelines to make sure we are not caught short. 'I don't think we are going to be caught short, is what I would say.' Asked if there was still hope Darling might be convinced to stay, he added: 'That would be great. But it's our job to try to be prepared for every eventuality and I wouldn't say with any confidence what he is going to do.' This is a saga that has, of course, been rumbling on for months, and Swansea have now indicated there will soon come a point where they move on from negotiations. 'Absolutely. Of course there is [a point where we have to move on]," Montague added when quizzed on that point. "I think we have communicated that internally and to Harry and his representatives.' Should Darling choose to move on, it would clearly weaken Swansea's centre-back options ahead of the new season, but Montague says they remain confident the squad will emerge from this window stronger, regardless of the defender's decision. 'I would like to think regardless of the outcome there, we can finish as a stronger unit than when we went into the window," he said. 'If Harry Darling chooses to leave, he is an exceptional Championship defender, but we need to be able to back ourselves to find alternative options in that position.' One option that has already been brought on board is former Bolton Wanderers captain Ricardo Santos, who's close to completing a move to south Wales on a free transfer. However, it's understood he's not been brought in as a front line replacement for Darling, but merely for added cover in a position that's clearly in need of strengthening in this window. 'He's a player we have liked as a group for a long time," Montague said. "The data over the years has been very strong. 'I think it's fair to say he didn't have the best year last year, but our job is to try to look beyond that and ascertain where there might be value for money in bringing a player in. 'Rico is being brought in as a player who adds some more leadership, having been a captain of his club, a brilliant character we have all met and had conversations with. 'We think he is someone who can add really good depth to an area of the pitch where we don't have much depth at all at the moment. Article continues below 'I think it's what he can add on and off the pitch. We think he will elevate the group by virtue of being who he is, being who is around the building.' FC Sion's Gora Diouf has been mentioned as another possible target. But despite casting an eye over the 21-year-old, it's understood he's not considered a serious option by the club at this stage.
