Russell Martin should look to re-sign these former Swansea City players to guide the Jacks back into contention for promotion to the Premier League after a disappointing campaign.
The Swansea.com Stadium outfit failed to feature in the play-offs for the first time in three seasons last term. Following successive defeats to Brentford in the semi-finals in 2020 and the final in 2021, Swansea only managed 15th-place come the end of the 2021/22 season.
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It marked Swansea’s lowest finish to a league campaign since the club won the League One title in 2007/08. Now, Martin has so far strengthened his side in south Wales with deals for Joe Allen to return plus Harry Darling, Nathan Wood and a loan deal for Matthew Sorinola.
Allen has returned to the Swansea.com Stadium a decade after leaving in a £15m transfer to Liverpool. The Wales star has returned for free after leaving Stoke City at the end of his contract and will replace Flynn Downes, who joined West Ham United for £9m up to £14m.
But Martin can also continue to improve his Swansea side by re-signing a further clutch of former Jacks players. So, with that in mind, who could return to south Wales this summer?
Swansea should re-sign Shelvey amid former player’s uncertain Newcastle future
Swansea should look to re-sign Jonjo Shelvey this year amid their former player’s uncertain future with Newcastle United. The midfielder moved from the Swansea.com Stadium to St James’ Park in 2016 for £12m, but is now in the final year of his contract and could be sold.
Eddie Howe is likely to persist with Joelinton starting with the Toon’s star January addition Bruno Guimaraes next season. The Magpies are also in the market for further midfielders, which will push Shelvey – who ended last term injured – further down the pecking order.
So, Martin should strive to strike on Shelvey’s situation to secure his return to Swansea to add to his core. The 30-year-old has proven himself as a leader on Tyneside, having taken up the captaincy earlier this year, along with being a strong passer to dictate proceedings.
Swansea should re-sign another former player from Newcastle in Fernandez
Swansea should also re-sign another former player from Newcastle this summer in centre-back Federico Fernandez. Howe has deemed the Argentine surplus to requirements at the Magpies, per Chronicle Live, and rarely fielded him after taking charge in November, either.
Fernandez made just two appearances under the former Bournemouth manager across all competitions last season. His outings also only totalled 84 minutes combined, and did not play a single second through 2022, with his last time on the field recorded on December 4.
The 32-cap international had been a key figure under former Magpies boss Steve Bruce in the 2020/21 campaign. He started 24 Premier League fixtures that season and occasionally captained the club, having presented an ever-reliable and consistent option from the back.
Martin should re-sign Celina to strengthen Swansea’s creative options
Martin should look to see Swansea re-sign Bersant Celina of Dijon to strengthen the club’s creative options this summer. The 29-cap Kosovo international joined the Ligue 2 outfit in 2020 from the Jacks for £3m, matching the £3m they had paid to Manchester City in 2018.
Celina offered 10 goals and 11 assists through his time at the Swansea.com Stadium over 79 appearances across all competitions. He also offered Dijon five assists over 32 Ligue 1 games in 2020/21, but could not help prevent Les Rouges’ relegation to the second-tier.
A loan move to Ipswich Town in League One then followed for Celina last season, who hit strong form. The 25-year-old fired home six goals and laid on a further six assists from 32 third-tier appearances. His haul should now intrigue Martin after Celina returned to Dijon.
Martin should test the waters for Rodon to return to south Wales
Martin should test the waters to see if there is a potential route for Joe Rodon to return to south Wales this summer. The centre-back has struggled to establish himself since leaving Swansea for Tottenham Hotspur in 2020 for an initial £11m, rising to £15m after add-ons.
Rodon has made just 24 appearances for Spurs across all competitions over the last two seasons. He has also only started 14 games for the north London natives, including a mere eight Premier League matches from 15 outings for 815 minutes – just 86 came last season.
Swansea may struggle to re-sign Rodon as their former player is sought-after among clubs in higher divisions. Calciomercato now report newly-promoted Fulham are in talks to sign the Wales defender, who Alex Crook links with Everton and Gianluca Di Marzio with Roma.
Swansea should see if Lowe would return one year after Bournemouth move
Swansea should sound out any interest Jamal Lowe may have in returning to south Wales a year after joining Bournemouth. The Jacks sold the forward to the Cherries in August for £1.5m, rising to £2m. But the first term of his three-year contract was not a huge success.
Scott Parker only started Lowe in 12 of his 39 Championship appearances, on route to the Dean Court outfit clinching promotion as runners-up. Even though the 27-year-old struck seven goals and laid on a further two assists over his 1,376-minutes of second-tier action.
Failing to hold down a starting position in the Championship may now see Lowe struggle to feature regularly in the Premier League. So, Swansea should see if there is room to re-sign their former player, who offered 14 goals and two assists across his 58 games for the club.
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