Swansea City manager Michael Duff believes the Championship outfit have ‘rejected’ Southampton’s Nathan Wood bid as they hold out for around £12 million.
Former Barnsley boss Duff will be counting down the minutes until the window closes. His preparations for Saturday’s trip to Preston North End continue to be impeded by incessant speculation surrounding two players who would be among the first names on Duff’s team sheet at Deepdale; Leeds United moving in for Joel Piroe as Southampton step up their pursuit of Nathan Wood.
According to the Daily Mail, the Saints were planning a £10 million bid for the England U21 international earlier this week. A bid which now appears to have been submitted.
Swansea are holding out for more, though a rumoured £2 million gap in the valuation of both teams is one which feels distinctly ‘bridgeable’; Southampton boss Russell Martin looking to raid his old employers for one of the Championship’s most talented young defenders.
Southampton pursue Swansea City ace Nathan Wood
“I think there’s a bid, yeah,” Duff tells Wales Online. “I think it got rejected.
“It’s a sign of having good players. If no one’s bidding for any of the players, then we’d be useless. We think we’ve got some good players.
“Woody’s one of those. He’s got loads and loads of work to do. But he’s got a high ceiling in terms of his footballing ability and his attributes as well. As an ex-centre-half I’ll try to help him as much as I can, and we’ll see what happens.”
Wood, formerly of Middlesbrough, impressed during a breakthrough 2022/23 campaign alongside Martin in South Wales; the now-Southampton boss describing him as an ‘absolutely outstanding’ talent.
Should he reunite with his former coach on the South Coast, Wood will find himself under pressure to strengthen a backline which has been breached six times in just three league games so far.
“I know there was a bid. I’ve read the same Sky Sports News (reports) as you,” Duff quips.
“I don’t get involved in that part of the conversation. There will be a valuation of every player. If it’s met, they get sold. That’s the food chain. It doesn’t matter where you are in the football world.
“Unless you’re a Barcelona or a Man City, or a Chelsea, then every player has a price. Do I get involved in what people are worth? I have an opinion.
“But I’m not a decision-maker in terms of that.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
