The Swansea City boss has an impressive list of clubs on his CV, and it could mean he looks into bringing in players from Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern and, of course, Chelsea.
Paul Clement is battling to keep Swansea City in the Premier League
Before taking over at Swansea City in January, Clement was Carlo Ancelotti’s number two at German champions Bayern Munich. He has also held previous coaching roles as assistant to the Italian at Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. That’s some CV.
Regarded as one of world football’s brightest prospects, Swansea were convinced enough by his reputation to give him another chance at being number one in the dugout after a brief spell at Championship side Derby County led to his dismissal after just eight months in charge. This lack of experience was initially a concern for Swansea fans but so far, he has managed to prove his doubters wrong as Premiership survival is now feasible.
However, the Swans have shipped 61 goals so far this season, the most conceded by any team in the league. If Clement is to guide the Welsh club to safety then the centre of defence will be an area he is keen to bolster. We take a look at three players from Clement’s former teams that he could convince to come to the Liberty Stadium.
Holger Badstuber
It is not often that you are able to pick up a five time Bundelisga and Champions League winner at the age of 28 without paying a significant transfer fee. Badstuber has had a torrid time after such a promising start to his career.
The German international has been limited to 30 starts in four years for Bayern Munich after being a key figure in previous seasons. He is now on loan at Schalke 04 in a desperate bid to resurrect his subsiding career. He was originally out of contract this summer but was rewarded with a one year contract extension. He is still highly rated at Bayern but that does not mean they would not be tempted into letting him go if the right offer was made. At 6ft 3 inches tall, Badstuber is an imposing figure. If he can stay clear of any further long-term injuries then he can excel in Clement’s side.
Badstuber is shown a red card in his last game – against parent club Bayern Munich
Diego Llorente
Llorente is a product of the Real Madrid youth academy. After working his way through the set-up, he has not been given an opportunity to make an impact on the first team. He is currently on loan at La Liga side Malaga and in has become a regular starter in their defence in recent weeks after a string of impressive performances. He spent the previous season on loan at Rayo Vallecano where he impressed again, despite the side’s relegation. With two full Spanish top flight campaigns under his belt, Llorente will feel he has what it takes to break into Madrid’s first team. Llorente can also operate in a holding midfield role. His versatility and comfort on the ball would be an asset for Clement.
Kurt Zouma
This move would be an ambitious one if Clement decided to make a move for a player closer to home and with Premier League experience under his belt. A move to the Liberty Stadium would not be a permanent one and Zouma is held in high regard by Chelsea.
The Frenchman has just come back into the first team picture after six month lay off as a result of a serious knee ligament injury suffered last season. He has had to settle for a place on the bench in recent months as Chelsea’s settled defence has cemented at the top of the league. It is not clear whether Chelsea boss Antonio Conte can guarantee the 22-year-old first team football next season so a temporary move away from Stamford Bridge could be on the cards and a season-long loan move would be beneficial for both clubs.
Kurt Zouma has played just 21 minutes of Premier League football this season
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