Your Swansea City headlines on Thursday, January 5.
Garrick moves on
Jordon Garrick has joined Forest Green Rovers on a permanent deal having been recalled by Swansea City from his loan spell with Lincoln City.
The winger joined The Imps on a season-long loan deal last summer and has featured 16 times for the League One club in all competitions, scoring once in a 2-2 draw at Barrow in the Carabao Cup.
However, with head coach Russell Martin eager to bolster his attacking options this month, the Swans have chosen to offload Garrick permanently on the fifth day of the January transfer window.
As such, his loan stint with Lincoln was cut short, and he has signed an 18-month deal with Forest Green Rovers.
“It’s amazing to sign for Forest Green. I can’t wait to start training and to get ready for the games," said the Jamaican.
“The way the head coach wanted to get the move done straight away showed how serious he is about me as a player. It made perfect sense for this to be my new home."
The 24-year-old joins defender Brandon Cooper in making the switch to The New Lawn this month.
Garrick leaves Swansea having made 19 appearances in all competitions for the first team, scoring three goals during that period.
Brighton ace linked
Swansea have been linked with a move for Brighton's Marc Leonard.
The Glasgow-born 21-year-old is currently on loan with Northampton Town from the Seagulls and has caught the eye of several clubs as a result of his performances with the League Two promotion chasers.
And the Daily Express report that both Swansea and Championship rivals Preston North End are interested in a permanent deal for the Scotland Under-21 international.
The midfielder - whose two senior appearances for the Seagulls came against Cardiff City and Swansea City in the Carabao Cup last season - is also said to have attracted loan interest from Forest Green Rovers, Morecambe and Bristol Rovers. His current contract with Brighton expires in the summer.
Finance hint given
Russell Martin expects Swansea to spend in the January transfer window but says the club do not need to sell players to fund deals for new recruits.
The Swans have identified Rotherham United's Chiedozie Ogbene as their prime target for the winter market while they could also add to their wide options.
However, with defensive duo Fin Stevens and Brandon Cooper already gone this month, the club are expected to offload others - with Jamie Paterson and Michael Obafemi among those who could be sold while Morgan Whittaker's future remains uncertain.
Swansea have named, on average, the youngest line-up in the Championship so far this season, and with Martin keen to add more experience to his ranks, the 37-year-old knows the Swans will need cash to land their preferred targets.
"This window, we'll try and add, I think, a bit more experience, athleticism and know-how that I think will really help the young guys," said Martin this week.
"That's what we're aiming for and hopefully that's what we'll end up with. If you're going for a bit more experience then it's going to cost money."
And when asked if the Swans need to sell first before being able to sign players, Martin responded: "No, we don't have to.
"I think it's inevitable people will probably leave in this window that will probably help us to get the people in that we feel we need, but, again, that could take quite a while. We'll just have to wait and see."
Trio track starlet
Newport County, Leyton Orient and Dundee are all monitoring Azeem Abdulai's progress this month, WalesOnline understands.
The versatile defensive midfielder has been a key member of the Swans' Under-21 setup and made his first team bow in the Carabao Cup against Oxford United in August having featured in multiple Championship squads in the second-half of last season.
Russell Martin is now keen to see the 20-year-old - who recently signed a new contract to remain with Swansea until at least the summer of 2025 - move out on loan this month in a bid to get regular game time at senior level.
And it's understood League Two pair Newport and Leyton Orient have both cast their eye over Abdulai while Scottish Championship side Dundee have also shown an interest in securing his services.
Speaking in November about his long-term aims, Abdulai said: “The next big push will be for next season, to break into that team. Whatever happens between now and then, I’m happy to be a Swansea City player for the foreseeable future."
Glasgow-born Abdulai is yet to play international football at any level, although he is eligible to feature for Scotland and Sierra Leone, his father's country of birth.
READ MORE: Burnley remain interested in Swansea City striker Michael Obafemi
Oko-Flex future uncertain
Armstrong Oko-Flex's future remains uncertain as West Ham United are yet to recall the attacker from his loan spell with Swansea.
The 20-year-old joined the Swans for the duration of the season in the summer but was expected to have his time with Russell Martin's side cut short this month.
However, the decision lies firmly in the hands of the Hammers, although Swans boss Martin admits Oko-Flex may find game time even harder to come by during the remaining months of the season if the club manage to land their preferred transfer targets in January.
"There's been conversations, I just don't know really. In terms of when West Ham can recall him, it's not imminent," said Martin after the loss to Burnley.
"They'll make a decision very soon. Armstrong has an opinion, his agent does. We've been honest about his situation in terms of the minutes he might get if the people we want in are the ones that we get in.
"Everyone's honest. There's no problems at all. He's a great kid. If he ends up staying there's no problem, if he ends up going, we'll wish him the very best."
READ NEXT:
