Your Swansea City headlines for Friday, July 8.
Brentford starlet linked
Swansea have been credited with showing an interest in Brentford youngster Fin Stevens.
The Swans are eager to add a right wing-back to their ranks in the summer transfer window following the exit of Cyrus Christie. And West London Sport claim the Swans are one of a number of Championship sides to explore the option of signing Stevens on loan.
The highly-rated Wales Under-21 international recently signed a new long-term contract to remain with the Bees until the summer of 2027 while Thomas Frank's men hold the option to extend that deal by a further 12 months.
But with Aaron Hickey expected to join Brentford from Bologna, the Bees are keen to see Stevens develop elsewhere on loan for the duration of the 2022/23 campaign. Reading and Blackpool are also said to have shown an interest in signing the 19-year-old along with several League One clubs.
Rooney linked with shock DC United return
Wayne Rooney has been linked with a shock return to DC United.
The 36-year-old recently left his role as manager of Derby County following the Rams' relegation from the Championship. And the Daily Mail claim that Major League Soccer side DC United are considering the option of making Rooney their next head coach.
The former Manchester United and Everton star spent two years at DC United - who are co-owned by Swansea's majority shareholders Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien - as a player before hanging up his boots following his time as a player-coach at Derby.
READ MORE: Joe Allen to be handed iconic shirt number for Swansea City return
Moyes reveals Downes' Premier League chance
David Moyes believes Flynn Downes has all of the attributes required to make the step up from the English Football League to the Premier League.
Midfielder Downes completed a £9m transfer from Swansea to West Ham on Thursday evening in a deal that could be worth up to £14m with add-ons. It represents a remarkable rise for the Englishman who was playing in League One just over a year ago.
And Hammers boss Moyes is confident that Downes can follow in the footsteps of Jarrod Bowen when it comes to proving his worth at the highest level. “We think he's got good energy. We think he's got a lot of things which we have about our team, which we would want to keep and want to add to. I'm looking forward to it," said Moyes.
“We brought Jarrod Bowen from a similar situation at Hull, so we're always trying to find boys from the Championship who we think are going to step up to become Premier League players. I'm hoping that Flynn does. I think there's a good chance as he's got an awful lot of good attributes.”
Downes has signed a five-year contract at the London Stadium. West Ham hold the option to extend the 23-year-old's deal by an additional 12 months.
Speaking about his switch to the English capital, Downes said: “It’s been my dream since I was a little boy to join this club - it’s an absolute privilege. This is my club, so I couldn’t be more delighted. I’m glad to be here and I can’t wait to get started."
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O'Leary's shock at appointment
Kris O'Leary admits he was shocked to be asked to join Swansea's first team coaching set-up on a permanent basis.
The club icon assisted Russell Martin last season following the departure of Luke Williams and has worked tirelessly to ensure the Swans' Under-23s are closely aligned with the methods of the senior side.
And ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, it was confirmed that O'Leary had officially been handed the role of first-team coach. “I am very proud, it came as a bit of a shock really,” he told the club website.
“I spoke with the gaffer a couple of days before pre-season started and we discussed a number of roles and was asked if I would like to come up and work with them. I was delighted to accept.
“It is a privilege and an honour to represent this club, whatever you do, but to be able to do it at first-team level is incredible. I had the chance towards the end of last season, I think the gaffer was appreciative of the work we had done with the under-23s."
Young guns including Azeem Abdulai, Cameron Congreve and Joel Cotterill were all given prominent roles in the under-23s last term and featured in senior squads in the latter stages of the 2021/22 campaign. And O'Leary admits he has huge faith in Martin's methods having worked closely with him over the last year.
“The first time I sat down with the gaffer I went in as a coach and left as a fan," he added. "That was because, with what he showed us, I believed it would take us back to where we were, and I still strongly believe that."
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