Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Tom Coleman

The players who could now follow Southampton-bound Russell Martin out of the Swansea City exit door

After making such encouraging progress last season, Swansea City are facing up to a summer of significant upheaval.

At the time of writing, boss Russell Martin is closing in on a move to newly-relegated Southampton, who are set for some serious changes themselves as they bid to earn back their top-flight status at the first time of asking.

The move is expected to be completed in the coming days once all the various formalities are done and dusted, and attention will soon turn to who replaces Martin in the Swans hot-seat.

READ MORE: Swansea City transfer news as Plymouth Argyle striker on radar and Southampton's reported first choice on new shortlist

However, it seems likely the manager is not the only one who could be heading out the door this summer, with questions now growing over several players in this current squad.

While not entirely ruling out the possibility of keeping at least one of them, the club seem close to admitting defeat in their bids to keep out-of-contract trio Ryan Manning, Kyle Naughton and Joel Latibeaudiere at the club.

Manning, Swansea's player of the season as voted by supporters, has already been linked with a move to Leeds United in recent days, and it wouldn't exactly be a surprise to see him move higher up the pyramid.

Star striker Joel Piroe too seems destined to climb the ladder and, with just one year left on his current deal, this summer seems the most likely window for a sale.

Losing the Dutchman for nothing is quite simply unthinkable from a financial point of view, so clearly something will have to give soon, with there seemingly no sign of a contract extension at this stage. Having netted 20 goals in each of his opening two seasons with the Swans, there will surely be an interested party somewhere. The same could be said for Nathan Wood, whose performances at the back have attracted plenty of high praise. However, with an option remaining on his current contract, there's perhaps less of a need to sell him this summer.

As well as Piroe, Morgan Whittaker is another forward who could find himself in demand.

Rangers boss Michael Beale is believed to still be a big admirer of the former Derby County starlet, while Steven Schumacher clearly enjoyed having him on board at Plymouth Argyle, who are now preparing for life back in the second tier.

But the Pilgrims boss might not be the only one ready to rekindle old friendships.

It absolutely wouldn't be any surprise at all to see Martin attempt to bring a couple of his most trusted lieutenants on the pitch with him to St Mary's, the obvious choice being Matt Grimes, who's been integral to his plans at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Grimes certainly enjoyed working within Martin's regime, and admitted the manager's philosophies were a key part of him extending his current deal at the club.

“I think if you consider where we have come from, then to be playing some of the football we are playing at the moment is pretty spectacular," he said back in December.

“We have full faith in each other, 100 per cent. That’s why I was very clear on my decision when I signed a new contract here."

Southampton, armed with the riches of Premier League parachute payments, will certainly be well placed to test Swansea's resolve if they do decide to poach a player or two, but it remains to be seen what sort of price tags would be involved, with the Swans board surely aware that a rebuild of the squad is very much around the corner.

Whatever happens, there's clearly already work to be done. As things stand Swansea already need two full-backs and a goalkeeper, with Andreas Sondergaard already departing, and more firepower up front would certainly be welcomed.

Should they need a couple of strikers and another midfielder on top of that, it will require a real hefty recruitment drive with no guarantee of success.

Another quiet summer then.

READ MORE:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.