These are your Swansea City headlines on Wednesday, June 1.
Christie open to move abroad
Cyrus Christie admits he's open to a move abroad having been released by Fulham.
The versatile defender is currently on international duty with Republic of Ireland but is on the lookout for a new club following the expiration of his contract with the Cottagers. Christie spent the second half of the 2021/22 season on loan at Swansea and excelled under Russell Martin.
The Swans are keen to bring Christie back to the club, although they appear resigned to missing out on his signature barring any significant changes in the coming weeks. The 29-year-old has admitted he did not want his loan stint with Swansea to end.
However, he has since stated he is weighing up a possible move away from the United Kingdom. “It’s definitely something that I would like to explore," he said. “I need to sit down and talk to my family and see what is best for them.”
And on his time with Fulham under Marco Silva, Christie commented: “At times I wasn’t allowed at the training ground when anyone was in there. I’ve not got a clue why. Nobody gave me an answer. I’d go to train on my own."
Christie featured 22 times for Swansea, scoring three goals.
READ MORE: Swansea City announce Mark Allen replacement as new role created
Posh chief changes stance on goalkeeper
Barry Fry says Steven Benda remains out of Peterborough United's price range.
The Swans are willing to offload the goalkeeper this summer having already sent out the German on loan to Posh in January. The League One outfit are keen to make Benda's move to Cambridgeshire permanent but are bidding to nudge down the asking price.
WalesOnline understands Swansea offered Benda to Peterborough for £500,000 in May, with Fry claiming the Swans wanted £1m for the 23-year-old, although he has since said the asking price is half of that sum. Nevertheless, Fry has said even half a million remains too much.
“We’re still not going there," he told the Peterborough Telegraph. "It's a lot of money for a League One goalkeeper and there's the issue of wages for a player who still has two years on his Swansea contract to run. He is earning far more than we could pay him.
"We have other targets and we have made very good progress on a couple of players. We could well bring in a couple of players on loan, including a goalkeeper. We are talking to a Premier League club about a loan player, but that deal is taking time."
Last month, Fry suggested Russell Martin was keen on a swap deal involving Benda and another Peterborough player, although sources close to Swansea emphatically shot down those claims when asked by WalesOnline.
Allen out of Wales line-up
Joe Allen has been left out the squad for Wales' Nations League opener against Poland.
Rob Page's men lock horns with Czesław Michniewicz's in Wroclaw this evening, although the Wales boss has omitted several key players - including Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey - from his squad ahead of Sunday's crucial World Cup play-off final against Scotland or Ukraine.
Allen is poised to start for the Red Dragons at Cardiff City Stadium at the weekend as Wales bid to qualify for a first World Cup since 1958. The midfielder is currently a free agent having been released by Stoke City.
The Swans are eager to bring Allen back to south Wales ahead of the 2022/23 season, although the Potters recently confirmed they are in talks with the 32-year-old over a new contract at the bet365 Stadium. Allen is set to make a decision on his future following the conclusion of Wales' five June fixtures.
You can follow live updates of Poland v Wales here.
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New chief opens up on Martin and Winter talks
Josh Marsh is confident of progressing at Swansea having been appointed as the club's new head of football operations.
The Englishman joins the Swans following the departure of sporting director Mark Allen in April. He is set to be a key figure in the club's recruitment.
And Marsh says his early talks with head coach Russell Martin and chief executive Julian Winter have been hugely positive. “It is an honour and a privilege for me to accept this opportunity at Swansea City, a club which has such a strong identity and history of success,” said Marsh.
“From speaking with ownership, Julian and Russell, it was clear to me that there are some real positives at the club and a strong desire to progress and be successful.
“I’ve been fortunate to work at three fantastic clubs with some great people. I am now looking forward to applying the knowledge and experience I have gained to this role and working together with Julian, Russell and the wider team.” You can read the full story on Marsh here.
