Swansea City manager Russell Martin has indicated that Flynn Downes and Joel Piroe won’t ‘be leaving on the cheap’ as Premier League giants Leeds United and Leicester express interest, speaking to Wales Online.
With a repeat of last season’s play-off final berth a distant pipe dream at the Liberty Stadium, this summer has the potential to be a rather long one as far as Swansea supporters are concerned.
According to The Times, Leeds have set their sights on Downes, an ‘absolutely unbelievable’ midfield general who has taken to life in the Championship like the proverbial duck to water since his cut-price move from Ipswich Town.
Leicester, meanwhile, scouted free-scoring Piroe on four separate occasions before Christmas alone.
The £10 million-rated Dutchman is not only one of the second-tier’s greatest goalscorers, he’s also a scorer of great goals.
Piroe took his tally to 20 for the season with two beautifully-crafted, trademark finishes against Derby County on Saturday.
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But, according to Martin, anyone looking to Swansea for bargain signings will be disappointed.
“I think the owners trust me and Mark (Allen, sporting director) and the judgement of Julian (Winter, chief executive) on what a player is worth, for sure,” explains the former Rangers, Norwich and Scotland defender.
“I don’t think anyone will be leaving on the cheap. It’s not going to be a case of ‘if there’s some money coming in, it’s a good profit’.”
When asked specifically about Piroe, Martin insists that the Dutchman’s importance to the Swansea cause has not gone unnoticed in the Liberty City boardroom.
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“(The owners) understand how important he is to us. They understand a few of the guys, how important they are,” adds the one-time MK Dons boss.
“No-one is going to be forced or rushed into anything. We’ve had no offers for him and no conversations about him.
“All I know is that we’ll make sure, if anyone ever leaves the building, that it’s worthwhile for us and it means we can go and find the next one.”
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