Latest news with #RichardMontague
BBC News
07-06-2025
- 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."
Wales Online
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Swansea City in dialogue with Nottingham Forest over O'Brien as chief clears up transfer links
Swansea City in dialogue with Nottingham Forest over O'Brien as chief clears up transfer links Swansea haven't given up hope of a reunion next season and director of football Richard Montague has now confirmed the latest Lewis O'Brien did well at Swansea City (Image:) Swansea City's director of football Richard Montague insists the door hasn't yet been closed on a possible return for Lewis O'Brien this summer. The midfielder spent a hugely successful six-month loan spell with the Swans last season, starting all 16 games for the club after arriving in January and producing a string of eye-catching performances in the process. The 26-year-old has one year left on his current contract at Nottingham Forest, and the prospect of him breaking into their first-team plans appear slim, despite his exploits for the Swans. Sign up to the Swansea City WhatsApp service to get breaking news and top stories sent to your phone A host of Championship clubs have taken an interest, while Spanish giants Valencia are also understood to be admirers of the midfielder, but his next move remains shrouded in uncertainty. O'Brien is understood to have enjoyed his time in south Wales, and has similarly enjoyed a good relationship with head coach Alan Sheehan. Finances have already been mentioned as a key stumbling block were Swansea to show an interest in bringing him back, but Montague says the door is by no means closed on a possible reunion, adding that the club have already held discussions with his parent club. Article continues below "We have had good conversations with Forest," he added. "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. "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." Central midfield is an area the club are targeting in this window, although it seems they are not pursuing a deal for Lincoln City's Ethan Erhahon. Swansea had a bid for the 24-year-old knocked back earlier this month, and club insiders at the time indicated the Swans had ended their interest and moved on to other targets. Reports elsewhere later claimed the Swans were still circling for the Scotland under-21s international. However, those suggestions appear to be wide of the mark for now. 'We have talked about so many players and quite a lot have got to the point where we have spoken to agents or clubs," Montague continued. 'There isn't anything concrete in that one. I am happy to say he has been a player who has been lists but it's not progressing any further at this stage.' In terms of possible interest in their own players, Montague says there hasn't been any approach for midfield pair Goncalo Franco and Jay Fulton, both of whom have been the subject of speculation recently. Franco is understood to have caught the eye of clubs in England, Germany and Portugal, while Fulton has recently been linked with a move to Plymouth Argyle. 'Jay did unbelievably well for us when he came into the team at the back end of the season," Montague said. "He gave us some great minutes and is an unbelievable character. 'He is a senior player, which is probably lacking a bit in that age profile now with some of the key departures we had. 'Jay is an important player for us and there is no news about any offers or movement with Jay.' On Franco, he added: "I am aware of gossip and rumours. There is so much noise around this time of the year which is understandable because need things to write about. 'But until we have anything concrete, there is nothing for me to say about it. Sign up to our Swansea City newsletter here. 'He has obviously had a brilliant season and we would love to keep him here, so let's hope that's how it stays.' As well as central midfield, a centre-back is believed to be near the top of the summer wishlist - even if out-of-contract start Harry Darling decides to commit his future the club. Article continues below Swansea are already set to complete the signing of former Bolton Wanderers captain Ricardo Santos, but are actively look at further options, with Ben Cabango currently the only recognised senior centre-back on the books right now. They are also understood to have cast an eye over FC Sion's Gora Diouf in recent months, but he now doesn't appear to be a serious target as things stand.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Swansea piecing together transfer 'puzzle'
Director of football Richard Montague says Swansea City are piecing together a transfer "puzzle" in their bid to strengthen for next have already agreed deals for winger Zeidane Inoussa and teenage striker Bobby Wales, while defender Ricardo Santos is poised to sign on a free and January recruit Melker Widell will arrive in there is plenty more work to do, with a left-sided centre-back and a defensive midfielder understood to be the club's leading priorities as things are also looking at attacking options – including Oli McBurnie – and remain interested in re-signing Lewis O' may also be further defensive additions depending on which players depart this summer, with Harry Darling's future still says Swansea have discussed a string of potential deals – and is "very confident" Alan Sheehan's new-look squad will be stronger than the one which finished last season. A move for Swansea old boy McBurnie, who is available on a free transfer following Las Palmas' relegation from La Liga, would be an eye-catching one, though much is likely to depend on whether fellow forwards Jerry Yates and Mykola Kuharevich come back into the fold in about McBurnie, who scored 26 goals in 62 appearances in his previous spell at Swansea, Montague said: "I think everybody knows about Oli and his qualities and his situation as well."He is one we have spoken about and will be a name on various lists that we have. He is clearly a very, very good player, but I'd be unwilling to say whether that's progressing or has progressed any further."In theory a lot of things are conceivable, but it depends on where you are not going to spend money elsewhere."Not necessarily talking about Oli McBurnie, but it's all a puzzle where you say how much do we value a particular player, what can he add to us, and how much of our budget should we allocate to any player?" Montague says "all options are on the table" regarding Yates, who impressed during a loan spell at Derby last season but is under contract at Swansea for at least one more year."We need to have proper conversations with him and his agent to discuss what is the best way forward for him. Nothing is decided yet," Montague situation is similar with Kuharevich, who was on loan at Hibernian in 2024-25, while goalkeeper Andy Fisher and midfielders Cameron Congreve and Joel Cotterill are also due back in Wales after loan spells away.O'Brien has gone in the opposite direction, returning to parent-club Nottingham Forest after thriving at Swansea having joined on loan in 26-year-old has expressed an interest in rejoining Swansea, but has a year to run on his contract at the City says there have been "good conversations with Forest" about the idea of O'Brien returning. "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," he added."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. 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 have been linked with a move for another midfielder, Lincoln City's Ethan Erhahon, and are thought to have tabled a bid earlier in the Montague has indicated Swansea will not be signing the 24-year-old, saying: "We have talked about so many players and quite a lot have got to the point where we have spoken to agents or clubs. There isn't anything concrete in that one." No interest in Franco yet - and no news on Fulton Montague, meanwhile, says there has been no interest in player-of-the-year Goncalo Franco so far this has been touted as a potential target for clubs in Europe on the back of a fine first season in Wales, but Montague said: "There is so much noise around this time of the year, which is understandable because people need things to write about."But until we have anything concrete, there is nothing for me to say about it. He has obviously had a brilliant season and we would love to keep him here, so let's hope that's what happens."Jay Fulton is another Swansea player who has been linked with a summer exit, with Plymouth Argyle mentioned as potential suitors for the long-serving Montague has suggested Sheehan's squad needs the experience of Fulton following the summer departures of old heads like Joe Allen, Kyle Naughton and Cyrus Christie."Jay did unbelievably well for us when he came into the team at the back end of the season - he gave us some great minutes and is an unbelievable character," he said."He is a senior player, which is probably lacking a bit in that age profile now with some of the key departures we had. He is an important player for us and there is no news about any offers or movement with Jay."
BBC News
05-06-2025
- 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.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Swansea City: Lewis O'Brien says thanks as club wait on Nottingham Forest player's future
Lewis O'Brien has said thanks to Swansea City as the Championship club wait to see whether they have any chance of re-signing the midfielder next season. O'Brien became a key figure after joining Swansea on loan during the mid-season window, making 16 appearances as the Welsh side pulled clear of relegation danger to finish 11th in the table. Director of football Richard Montague says Swansea "would love" to bring O'Brien back for a second spell, but the 26-year-old's next move is in Forest's hands. While O'Brien is unlikely to force his way back into the Premier League club's plans, there is considerable work to do if Swansea are to get their man. Forest may well want a fee for O'Brien this summer, whether he departs on another loan or a permanent basis. If Swansea can agree a deal with Forest, the former Huddersfield player's salary demands would be a significant hurdle to clear. For his part, O'Brien said last month he would be open to the idea of rejoining the Swans. And after his loan spell came to an end last weekend, O'Brien has said "a massive thank you to everyone at Swansea City" on social media., external "It's been a privilege to wear the shirt and be part of this club," he added. "I've learned a lot during my time here and will always be grateful for the experience. Once a Jack, always a Jack." Burnley defender Hannes Delcroix has also posted on social media after his loan stint at Swansea came to an end. "Thank you Swansea, you were great!" he said.
