These are your Swansea City transfer headlines on Wednesday, June 15.
McAtee decision made
The Yorkshire Post report that Manchester City's James McAtee will snub Celtic in favour of a move to Huddersfield Town this summer.
Swansea head coach Russell Martin has been tracking the attacking player for months, and tried to sign the teenager back in January. Competition for his signature has grown since, with Brighton and Celtic emerging as candidates. But it appears the Terriers have won the race to bring him on board for the 2022/23 season.
The arrival of superstar Erling Haaland is likely to start a domino effect at the Etihad, with McAtee set to get valuable game-time away from the Premier League champions.
Meanwhile, across the city in Manchester, our colleagues at the MEN report Ethan Laird will get a chance to impress new boss Erik Ten Hag over the course of pre-season.
Laird enjoyed a highly successful loan stint in Swansea last term before his deal was cut short in favour of a switch to Bournemouth. The move backfired, with Laird only making a handful of appearances for the Cherries. It appears unlikely the newly-promoted side will keep the right-back for another season.
Ten Hag will look at the 20-year-old before deciding where his future lies next term.
Reading pull out of Tucker race
Championship side Reading will not pursue their interest in Gillingham free agent Jack Tucker.
Our colleagues at BerkshireLive report the Royals could not reach a suitable financial package with the free agent. The Kent side would be entitled to compensation should the 22-year-old leave for another British side, as he is under 24 and has been offered new terms.
But with Reading out of the equation, it leaves Swansea to battle it out with Charlton for a player Gills manager Neil Harris believes is far too good for League Two next season.
Harris said earlier this month : “We made him a (contract) offer because we want to keep our compensation rights but I would like to keep him because he is a great player and a good character but we have to be realistic and say ‘is Jack Tucker better than League 2?’ In my opinion he is.”
He added: “With Jack, I would like to keep him, he has come through our academy and we would like to keep our homegrown players in and around our first-team group. We will have to see what unfolds but I don’t expect Jack to be here next season, if I am honest.”
Gill appointed No 2
Matt Gill has been appointed as Swansea's assistant manager. Gill, originally employed as technical development coach, stepped up his duties following the departure of Luke Williams for personal reasons. Williams has just been installed as head coach of Notts County.
Gill will now take his seat next to Russell Martin in the dugout permanently.
“I am really happy and proud to be taking on the role,” said Gill. "Working with Russell has been brilliant, and I really enjoyed stepping up and taking on more responsibility over the last few months.
“I absolutely love working for the club, I love being here and it has been a brilliant experience. Everything about being here has been great so to step up will make it even more enjoyable. I hope this will help with continuity, part of the way we work as a group involves getting to know the players really well and building relationships with them.
“That’s how Russell likes to lead, and that is how I like to coach so we hope those relationships we already have can help us hit the ground running in pre-season.”
Martin said he was delighted with the appointment, revealing that Gill's challenging approach will stand the club in good stead.
“Matt has got a brilliant relationship with the staff and the players,” said Martin.
“He challenges me, he is honest and always questioning where we can improve and get better. He is very good at his job. He deserves the chance to step up full-time as he has done brilliantly since stepping into the role. I think you can see our performances and the way we do things has really improved since then.
“I have been really pleased with how the dynamic has worked, and I think the continuity is important for us and the players. It’s a really good fit, he has taken on a lot of responsibility and made a really positive contribution.”
Forest, Fulham and Wolves in for Rodon
Our colleagues in Nottingham report that Steve Cooper's Nottingham Forest are in a three-way battle to sign Joe Rodon from Tottenham.
Wales centre-back Rodon is set to leave north London this summer, with game-time becoming a major factor in his thinking. The former Swansea defender has barely featured under Antonio Conte and with suitors queuing up for the 22-year-old, he could be allowed to move before the new season starts.
A loan to the City Ground would reunite Rodon with Cooper, but the Cottagers and Wolves are also keen. A move to Craven Cottage would mean the Welshman wouldn't have to relocate, which could be a factor in his decision-making process.
His international skipper Gareth Bale said last week he couldn't believe Rodon hadn't played more for Spurs.
"For me personally, I feel like he should be playing at Tottenham," said Bale. "I think he’s shown time and time again how good he is, I think personally when I was there last year, I felt he deserved to be playing.
"He’s a top professional, he doesn’t moan – he tries to moan but I tell him not to. I just say keep your head down, keep working because that way the manager can never use that excuse to not play you. So he is a very good professional, he’s a great young player.
"Of course he knows himself he should be playing week-in and week-out. He wants to be playing week-in and week-out. I don’t feel like he’s really had the opportunity to play a consistent run of games at Tottenham and I feel like if he did, he would be fantastic for them.
"Even if he has to go to another team, he’s going to strengthen that team no matter who it is. So he’s a great player, obviously a great friend and top professional as well."
