Your Swansea City headlines for Friday, June 24.
Allen issues statement
Joe Allen has confirmed his departure from Stoke City after rejecting a new deal with the club.
The Wales international's contract with the Potters expires this summer, although Michael O'Neill had been keen to extend the midfielder's stay in Staffordshire. However, it has emerged that Allen turned down the chance to remain at the bet365 Stadium.
Swansea City are among a number of clubs eager to sign the free agent - who has already held talks with Russell Martin earlier this year. And the 32-year-old officially announced his exit from Stoke on Friday morning after contract talks between his representatives and the club proved unsuccessful.
READ MORE: Joe Allen turns down new Stoke City contract offer in significant transfer boost to Swansea City
"After six years it’s tough to be leaving but I believe it’s the right time for both myself and the club to be parting ways," he said. “There’s so many players and staff who I’ve loved working with and who have made it a pleasure to be at the club.
“I’m also grateful to those supporters who have got behind the team through the good but also tougher times. I’m confident that with the current management and group of players there will be exciting times ahead. All the best, Joe.”
Stoke boss O’Neill said: “Joe is an exemplary professional who has been a hugely supportive figure to me since I joined the club. We were locked in a relegation fight when I arrived but Joe was not only a key figure on the pitch but also a unifying figure in the dressing room.
“He has been a joy to work with and is someone who not only has the respect of myself and the staff at the club but also the respect of his peers. I fully respect and understand his decision and wish him every success for the next phase of his career, in particular with Wales at the World Cup later this year.”
Do you think Swansea will sign Joe Allen this summer? Have your say in our comments section here.
Martin new signing close
Swansea City are on the brink of signing Matthew Sorinola on loan from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
The Swans have been determined to bolster their left-sided options after becoming resigned to missing out on another deal for Borussia Mönchengladbach's Hannes Wolf. And they are now poised to bring 21-year-old Sorinola to the Swansea.com Stadium for the duration of the 2022/23 campaign.
Sorinola played under Russell Martin at MK Dons before leaving the Buckinghamshire based outfit last summer to move to Belgium after turning down the chance to sign a new deal with the League One side. Martin is a huge admirer of the former Fulham youth product and sees him playing a pivotal role for the Swans in the upcoming season.
The impending arrival of Sorinola comes after Swansea have added Harry Darling, Nathan Wood and Wasiri Williams to their ranks.
Coach verdict given
AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson believes Andy Parslow's move to Swansea suits all parties.
The 31-year-old has been with the Swans at their Pennyhill Park training camp this week and was officially appointed as the club's new set-piece coach on Wednesday. And new Dons boss Jackson feels Russell Martin's side are an ideal fit for Parslow.
“Myself and my coaching staff have always covered those areas and didn’t necessarily feel the need for a specialist in that area, so that was communicated to Andy and he had a decision to make," he told the South London Press.
“He has gone to Swansea and that is great for him. He has joined a good Championship club and I wish him all the best. We never really crossed paths because we were away over the summer and now he’s gone there. So we didn’t even really get a chance to talk about it. It’s something that suits all parties.”
Ladies discover Champions League fate
Swansea City Ladies will face AC PAOK in the first round of the 2022/23 Women’s Champions League.
The Swans will face the 17-time Greek A Division winners in group two, with Rangers and Ferencvarosi TC featuring in the group's other semi-final. The winner of each group will progress into round two of the competition.
“I can’t wait for the Champions League,” head coach Jon Beale said prior to the draw. “It’ll be my first experience but Ian (Owen, general manager) and other staff have experienced it before. The waiting game now is with the draw to see who we will have in our group and we’re hoping for a kind draw which gives us an opportunity to get through and go to the next stage. No Swans team has done that before so can we be the first?
“Irrespective of who we draw in the group, we’ve got to be working, planning and prepping towards that and we’ll go there, give a good account of ourselves and I’m sure the players will leave everything on the pitch and give it all they’ve got.”
The semi-finals take place on August 18, with the third-place play-off and final being held three days later.
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