With the Championship season commencing in a few months, Swansea manager Luke Williams will have a busy couple of weeks shaping his squad into one capable of competing in the top tier of the Championship table.
The 2024/25 season will be Williams’ first full season in SA1, and he has already seen two first-team players leave this summer, with Jerry Yates joining Derby County on a season-long loan and Nathan Wood joining Southampton on a permanent basis.
The duo leaving so early in the summer window is a positive for Swansea since it provides Williams some clarity, and some more transfer cash in Wood’s case, but the Swans’ manager will be fully aware of a number of other
He has several difficulties to clear out before his team travels to Middlesbrough on August 10th. Swansea are short of players in vital positions, and Jamie Patterson’s future remains uncertain, since the 32-year-old became a free agent when his contract expired at the end of June.
However, a brief look at Swansea’s squad reveals that Williams has more pressing concerns to address before their trip to the Riverside Stadium in about four weeks.
Swansea City should look to upgrade on Andy Fisher.
Andy Fisher’s status is sure to be on Williams’ mind this summer, since the 26-year-old appears to be the club’s number one goalkeeper right now.
Swansea had Carl Rushworth on loan from Brighton last season, and the teenager became the club’s number one, appearing in all 46 Championship games. This meant that Fisher, who joined from MK Dons in January 2022, was relegated to the bench, and there are doubts about his ability to remain Williams’ first choice.
He replaced Ben Hamer as Swansea’s number one when he arrived, however he was replaced by Steven Benda during the 2022/23 season after failing to impress, until Michael Duff brought Rushworth in on loan following Fisher’s bad performance in a pre-season game against Oxford United last summer.
This means that many members of the Jack Army are not delighted with the possibility of Fisher starting in the Championship, but as things stand, the former Blackburn player appears to be set to open the season between the sticks.
The prospects of Rushworth returning to Swansea on loan appear unlikely, but with Fisher and Nathan Broome as the club’s only senior goalkeeping alternatives, Williams may be seeking to bring in another shot-stopper, either on loan or permanently.
Williams worked with the Wigan-born man at MK Dons, and he was also Russell Martin’s assistant when he signed for Swansea two and a half years ago, so it’s not out of the question that he may be given a shot, but Swansea supporters will believe that they’ve seen enough.
Fisher’s blunders are sufficient to justify prioritizing the signing of a goalkeeper. Swansea need to strike a long-term deal with Liam Cullen, or trade him. Liam Cullen is scheduled to become a free agent next summer, and Swansea should trade him this summer if the forward does not sign a long-term contract.
The 25-year-old came through Swansea’s system and was set to become a free agent this summer until the club activated a 12-month extension to provide some security.
Cullen scored seven goals and provided five assists in 49 appearances last season, bringing his total to 20 goals in 119 appearances for his hometown club since his debut in August 2018.
However, if they are unable to agree on new terms this summer, they may opt to transfer the Welsh international to prevent losing him for free in a year.
When the club announced the contract extension in April, Williams told BBC Sport: “It’s a commitment and a platform for him to go and show why he should be tied down for a longer period of time.”
This shows that Swansea’s hierarchy was hesitant to offer Cullen a long-term contract, and they may be tempted to sell the striker if they receive interest in him.
Hull City, Stoke City, and Bristol City were reportedly interested in Cullen prior to his contract being
extended. Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers were connected with a move for the Welshman last summer, but were unable to complete the transfer.
With lots of Championship interest in the past, if Swansea are unable to agree new terms with him, Williams and the club’s owners may attempt to move him this summer in order to cash in when possible.
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