These are your Swansea City headlines on Friday, June 30.
Cullen: Duff's made a great start
Swansea striker Liam Cullen says new boss Michael Duff has made a great first impression on the first-team squad.
Cullen and his team-mates are currently in Spain on a week-long training camp, an ideal opportunity to get to know the new gaffer and his backroom staff. A new manager always brings fresh ideas and will want to put a new stamp on the squad and Cullen feels this time together is vital for the season ahead.
“My first impressions of the gaffer have been really good, really positive,” he said. “I think he’s started getting his ideas across early so we already know what he wants from us. It’s really important that we have that clarity early, especially in pre-season where you can start to put that work to use and nail down the fundamentals of what he wants.
“Pre-season is massive, not only to get to know him and his staff on the pitch, but also off it so we can build those relationships and get a feel for each other. I think off-field relationships are just as important as off-field, so hopefully we can put that together this week.”
On a personal level Cullen, who finished last season strongly, says he wants to pick up where he left off.
“I think last season was a different perspective for me,” he added. “Now I’m on the back of scoring nine goals and receiving international call-ups so I just want to hit the ground running, pick up where I left off and hopefully I can start on a really positive note again this year.
“Individually and collectively, we need to get off to a good start. I think we were unbeaten in nine at the end of last season, so we’ve proven to ourselves that we can go and win games, compete and move up that table. So you just want to start well, carry that form on. At the moment, though, we’re just looking to work hard, get as fit as we can and get used to the manager’s style so we’ll see where it takes us.”
Target becomes free agent today
Swansea target Josh Key's Exeter City contract expires today. The full-back will now become a free agent, and reports have suggested Swansea have had two compensation offers knocked back by the Grecians.
As Key is under 24, the League Two club would be due a fee. Swansea are believed to be prepared to go to a tribunal to clinch the full-back.
West Bromwich Albion and Plymouth Argyle have also been mentioned as possible suitors this summer.
Swans to sign free agent attacker
Swansea City are closing in on Hearts striker Josh Ginnelly. The attacker is set to sign on a free transfer.
The Swans are set to beat a couple of other Championship clubs to his signature, and it is believed the 26-year-old has turned down more lucrative offers on the continent to pen terms at the Swansea.com Stadium. Maccabi Tel Aviv have been credited with interest. Full story here.
Tale of two strikers
Duff and new sporting director Paul Watson will have their work cut out in the striker department this summer, with Joel Piroe and Morgan Whittaker attracting attention.
As WalesOnline reported yesterday, Leicester City have serious interest in the Dutchman but have yet to lodge a bid for him, while Premier League clubs Everton and Nottingham Forest have made some enquiries.
Swansea will likely cash in on the 23-year-old this summer, with the former PSV man heading into the final year of his contract.
Whittaker, meanwhile, is being targeted by Coventry City. He has two years to run on his Swansea deal, meaning if they were to sell the former Derby product they could recoup a decent fee.
If both were to leave, it would leave Duff needing at least two new additions up front, with arguably a third needed, with Swansea having seen Michael Obafemi leave for good as well. Ginnelly is set to fill one of those berths.
