These are your Swansea City headlines on Wednesday, June 21
Martin timeframe
The Russell Martin to Southampton saga finally looks to be reaching the end game.
After a month of negotiations, Sky Sports report Martin will be appointed the new Saints manager by the end of the week.
Swansea will hope it's sooner rather than later, with players due back at Fairwood on Friday, with the squad due to fly out to Spain on Sunday for a warm-weather training camp. To get the latest Swans news sent straight to your inbox, sign up here.
Martin's exit will hasten the arrival of Michael Duff from Barnsley, with negotiations for the 45-year-old now said to be at an advanced stage.
READ MORE: Michael Duff's Barnsley release clause fee emerges as Swansea City close in on new boss
Swansea will have to pay a £500,000 compensation fee to the Tykes to bring Duff to south Wales, with the Northern Irishman having two years to run on his Oakwell contract.
Duff backed for play-offs
FLW pundit Carlton Palmer has given Swansea's move for Duff the thumbs up - and has backed them to shake up the play-offs next season if he's backed.
Duff is expected to named Martin's successor once his move to Southampton clears. And Palmer feels if Duff gets help in the transfer window he could lead Swansea on a promotion charge.
"It appears that Swansea City have agreed a deal with Barnsley for their manager Michael Duff," Palmer said.
"This is a huge blow for Barnsley who lost narrowly to Sheffield Wednesday in the League One play-off final only three weeks ago.
"Michael has done a hugely impressive job at Barnsley and I can see why Swansea have moved for him.
"I think he's a very, very good manager, has a bright future ahead of him and if he's backed by Swansea in the transfer market, I would watch this space, I think they could be in the shake up around the play-offs or better next season."
Plymouth hold talks with former loan men
Plymouth Argyle have held talks with some of the players they had at Home Park on loan last season amid confirmed interest in Swansea striker Morgan Whittaker.
The forward spent the first half of last term in Devon and was a hit on and off the pitch. He was recalled by Swansea in January but failed to make an impact back in south Wales. Pilgrims boss Steven Schumacher has already admitted they'd like to re-sign the former Derby man and director of football Neil Dewsnip has now confirmed their recruitment has ramped up to include talks with those who spent time with the club last term.
"Some of those conversations were stopped dead, some of them are very much alive," said Dewsnip, who did not get into the specifics.
Argyle made six loan signings last season - Finn Azaz, Sam Cosgrove, Nigel Lonwijk, Jay Matete, Bali Mumba and Whittaker.
Dewsnip told our colleagues at Plymouth Live: "I would love one or two of them, if not more, to return. They all have different circumstances.
"We have already talked about the possibility of some of them returning. Some of those conversations were stopped dead, some of them are very much alive."
Cotterill signs new deal
Swansea youngster Joel Cotterill has signed a new contract with the club.
The teenager will now stay in south Wales until at least June 2026. The 18-year-old has been with the Swans since the age of seven, and signed a two-year professional deal in the summer of 2022.
The Wales age-grade international was recently named Academy Player of the Season after an impressive 2022-23 season with the under-21s, skippering the side on a number of occasions.
The campaign also saw Cotterill make his first-team debut against Oxford United in the in the Carabao Cup.
