A repeat of last season’s run to the Championship play-off final might have gone up in smoke some time ago for Swansea City but that does not mean Russell Martin’s mid-table outfit will stand idly by and watch their star players pack up their things and run for the exits.
The former MK Dons boss knows that, in Joel Piroe and Flynn Downes, he has two players who, if supplemented by quality additions elsewhere, can provide the platform for another promotion push in 2022/23.
Piroe, in last week’s thrilling draw with Bournemouth, found the net with two more heat-seeking missiles – the sort of laser-like finish the former PSV Eindhoven starlet has made his trademark during a 24-goal debut season at the Liberty Stadium.
Amid interest from Leicester City, Martin insisted this week that it would take a ‘huge sum of money’ to tempt Swansea into a summer sale. The one-time Rangers defender was similarly bullish when asked about midfield general Downes recently too.
“Flynn’s just bought a house in Swansea. He loves it (here), his partner loves it,” Martin told Wales Online.
“He has a great relationship with all of the coaching staff and players. He’s really well respected and I think the fans really like him. I think that counts a lot for someone like Flynn.
“Hopefully Flynn is one who is with us for a long time. We know the financial situation, we probably have to sell one or two every year. But Flynn I really want to keep. If we can find a way around that we will.”
Staying put
Downes has made no attempt to hide his desire for Premier League football. But the former Ipswich Town youngster is happy to wait, in the hope that he will achieve his dreams without needing to up sticks again, just 12 months after swapping East Anglia for South Wales.
“I love it here and I am happy here,” says the former England U20 ace, insisting that he is taking no notice of those Leeds links. “Next year, I have high hopes for what we can achieve so I am not thinking about anything else.
“There is more to life than money. I am loving my football down here.”
Leeds don’t usually give up on their top transfer targets easily. Dan James will attest to that.
But reports from Het Niuewsblad suggesting that the Yorkshire giants have renewed their interest in Nicolas Raskin – having come close to striking a £6 million deal in January – feels like, if not an acceptance of defeat, then certainly a contingency plan with Downes looking increasingly likely to kick off 2022/23 in the white of Swansea rather than the white of Leeds.
- How Rangers’ XI could look in 22/23, including 5 new signings
- How West Ham’s XI could look in 22/23 with 4 new signings
Raskin’s ‘pitbull’ nickname tells you all you need to know about the tough-tackling 21-year-old. That’s in reference to the dog breed, by the way, not the cueball Cuban who came up with the inspired idea of rhyming ‘Kodak’ with ‘Kodak’.
Raskin averages 2.6 tackles per game – more than Kalvin Phillips, Adam Forshaw and Mateusz Klich – while accumulating nine yellow cards in the Belgian top-flight.
Leeds can – and probably will – sign an all-action central midfielder this summer. It’s just that it won’t be Flynn Downes.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
