These are the latest Swansea City headlines on Monday, March 28.
Dyer: Downes will move for £10m
Flynn Downes' former coach at Ipswich Town Kieron Dyer believes the Swansea star will be a Premier League player this summer.
Downes has arguably been Swansea's standout player this season, putting in a number of commanding displays in the engine room. Head coach Russell Martin says he has run out of superlatives for the 23-year-old, who has now attracted the interest of top-flight outfit Leeds United.
The Elland Road side could be in the market for a midfielder if star man Kalvin Phillips moves on at the end of the current campaign; Aston Villa have been linked with a £60million move for the England man. Downes has been named as a possible successor in Yorkshire, and Dyer, who was at Portman Road at the same time as the former MK Dons man, believes he will go right to the very top - adding that he'll be a £10million player very soon.
READ MORE: Leeds United favourite pans Flynn Downes pursuit
“Flynn was in the bomb squad (last year). Which, by the way, I totally agreed with because I was in the meeting when he said to (manager) Paul Cook that he would like to move on,” said Dyer.
“But he’s always been emotional. He’s that type of character. So me and BK (Bryan Klug, Ipswich’s head of coaching and player development) were good for him. We listened to him, we understood him. We got to the point where we arranged a truce meeting with him and Paul Cook so that it could be agreed that he could stay. But it was two alpha males going at it, the meeting didn’t go to plan and Flynn left.
“Either myself or Bryan should have been in that room. If I could have persuaded Flynn to stay we would have had a midfield of Sam Morsy and Flynn Downes and would be top of the league! I’m telling you now, Flynn Downes will go for £10m this summer to a Premier League club. That pains me because I could have made a difference and I let that slip after we put all that work in.”
Norwich keen on Stewart
Premier League club Norwich City are keen on Sunderland striker Ross Stewart.
Stewart was a name linked with Swansea, with the 25-year-old in red-hot form for the League One outfit. He has hit 22 goals for the Black Cats this term, with his return being rewarded with a call-up to the Scotland squad for their recent internationals.
His deal is set to expire at the end of next season, with the Sun reporting that the Canaries are now keeping tabs on him. With Dean Smith's side more than likely to be operating in the Championship next term, it would be a shrewd move for all concerned. Martin is an admirer of the former Ross County man but finances have been a marier to any move for him.
Allen didn't know about double stat
Swansea chief Mark Allen says he was unaware that no side had completed the double in the history of the South Wales derby.
We are finally into derby build-up week after an exhilarating Wales World Cup play-off semi-final, and although there is still a friendly against the Czech Republic to come, eyes are already starting to turn towards Saturday's game. Swansea won the first fixture of the season 3-0 in convincing fashion, and Allen stressed that everyone involved knows the significance of what could be achieved at Cardiff City Stadium this weekend.
“I think it is difficult to put into words, but I think everybody knows what it would mean to win both games in a season,” he said. “I will be honest and say, with a little bit of embarrassment, that I did not know that the double had never been done.
“It gives it that bit of extra, but the first thing is to get the boys back from international duty – hopefully all safe and sound – and get them fired up for what we know is an important game.” You can read more from Allen's in-depth interview on Swansea's transfer policy here.
Legends line-up revealed
The line-up for the Kevin Austin memorial match in May has been announced.
A Bristol Rovers XI will take on a Swansea Legends side on May 15 at the Memorial Stadium in Bristol. Proceedings from the game will be split between the Steve Bissix testimonial and the Austin memorial. Austin, a popular player amongst the Jack Army, sadly passed away in November 2018 aged just 45.
The legends' squad has already got some stellar names in it, with Dorus De Vries, Alan Tate, Leon Britton, Darren Pratley and Angel Rangel among the former pros confirmed. The team will be managed by Kenny Jackett, assisted by Kevin Nugent and coached by Ferrie Bodde. Tickets for the match can be bought here.
