After what is set to be a Championship season which does not bring promotion for either Welsh side, Swansea City and Cardiff City will both be looking to strengthen their squads in the summer.
The Swans have had a bit of a rollercoaster of a season in England’s second tier, and currently sitting in 14th place following their 3-3 collapse against Bournemouth on Tuesday night. Russell Martin has overseen a campaign of change in SA1, and recent results have shown how far they've come and also how far they still have to go in order to challenge at the top of the table.
Meanwhile, the Bluebirds found themselves far too close for comfort to the relegation zone earlier on this season and Steve Morison will be looking to address the shortcomings in his squad this summer.
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With neither club being in a strong financial position to fund the expected squad overhauls, the signings of free agents could prove vital in giving each side a boost ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. Here, we outline a select number of free agents who could sign for either club to help them in their promotion quest next term, with both teams needing strengthening across the park.
Swansea City
Jamal Blackman (goalkeeper) – Swansea are on the lookout for a competition for Andy Fisher this summer, and former Chelsea keeper Blackman could well be a decent option. The 28-year-old only signed with the Terriers in January on a short-term deal after leaving Los Angeles FC on a free transfer. His deal is set to run out this summer and, having failed to really establish himself in Carlos Corberan's first-team plans, he looks likely to leave.
Ryan Nyambe (right wing-back) – Cyrus Christie's loan spell is set to come to an end this summer and, while there is clearly some enthusiasm to keep him on board, it is still an area Swansea may need to strengthen. Should they be in the market, Nyambe is a seasoned defender in the Championship, having made 179 appearances for Blackburn in the division since 2015. A free agent in the summer, his experience could prove useful.
Alfie Mawson (centre-back) – Could it happen? The former Swan looks set to leave Fulham this summer, and is unlikely to be part of their top-flight campaign. Could he be an option for Swansea? It seems fanciful, but stranger things have happened.
Jacob Davenport (centre midfield) – Former Manchester City youth product Davenport ended up at Blackburn Rovers in 2018 but his four-year deal will expire this summer. The 23-year-old has made nine appearances in the Championship this year but is yet to score.
Joe Allen (centre midfield) – With the Welsh icon’s contract set to expire at Stoke City, Allen’s future is very much up in the air. The Potters have reportedly already made moves to tie down the midfielder, but he could yet be on his way. Similarly to Mawson, a return seems unlikely, but if it's remotely doable, it would be a hugely popular move with the Jack Army.
Tom Lawrence (left wing/centre-forward) – The Wales international has been a bright spot for a Derby County side that was recently condemned to League One. Lawrence is another Championship pro, having made 177 second tier appearances for Derby, scoring 35 goals, including nine this season to date. An attractive option and Martin is a fan, but there are likely to be plenty of other suitors.
Cardiff City
Thomas Kaminski (goalkeeper) – With the club in search of a new pair of hands at the back, Cardiff could turn to the experienced Kaminski to go between the posts. The experienced Belgian has been with Blackburn since 2020 and will be a free agent come summer. There is the option to extend his deal at Rovers by another year though meaning it is still up for debate whether he would be available.
Josh Emmanuel (right-back) – With Cody Drameh’s loan set to expire and see the right wing-back return to Leeds United, the Bluebirds will need a new right-back to complement the newfound quality of Joel Bagan on the left. Emmanuel is set to leave Hull City this summer having made only a handful of appearances this season. A move to Wales could reignite the 24-year-old’s career.
Aapo Halme (centre-back) – The Helsinki-born defender would help out Cardiff’s defensive issues with club captain Sean Morrison set to depart after eight years at the club. Halme has struggled for starts since a long-term injury which kept him out from September to February and will be looking for a fresh start in 2022/23.
Jordan Zemura (centre-back) – With Morrison as well as Aden Flint likely departing from the Cardiff backline, City will need to secure a few defenders’ signatures ahead of the new campaign. Zemura has made 30 league appearances for Bournemouth, scoring three goals. Yet with the team looking likely to return to the Premier League and with Zemura’s contract up this summer, the centre-back could very well move on to another Championship team.
Joe Rothwell (centre midfield) – Bluebirds’ midfielders Joe Ralls and Marlon Pack’s own contracts are set to expire this summer and should Cardiff choose not to extend them, the club will need new midfield reinforcements. One free agent available in the position is Manchester-born Joe Rothwell with the 27-year-old’s contract up at Blackburn this year. After being at the club since 2018, Rothwell has featured heavily for Rovers, especially this season. Alongside making 39 Championship appearances to date, the midfielder has scored three goals and assisted a further nine.
Alen Halilovic (attacking midfield) – Once hailed as an heir to Croatian greats Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, the former Barcelona player now finds himself playing his games in England’s second tier and will be out of contract with current side Reading come summer. His one-year contract signed last August has seen the 25-year-old feature in 11 games this season, scoring one goal and contributing two assists. Although he’s swapped the Camp Nou for the Select Car Leasing Stadium, the Croatian still represents the flair in attack that Cardiff lack.
George Honeyman (attacking midfield) – Having been at Hull for three seasons, Honeyman is set to leave the Tigers with 122 appearances and 10 goals to his name for the club. Not the most potent of attackers, the player still offers a creative route to goal with five assists in all competitions this season for the East Yorkshire club. Cardiff have needed creativity in their games this season, having often scored only one goal a match when they actually scored at all. With this in mind, players like Honeyman cannot be sniffed at.
The full list of 160 Championship free agents can be found here.
