These are your Swansea City headlines on Wednesday, May 18.
Stoke City reveal transfer plans amid Joe Allen talks
Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill says the club are heading in a different transfer direction now, trying to bring down the average of the squad while also aiming to comply with financial fair play.
Swansea have been heavily linked with a move for Potters midfielder Joe Allen this summer, who is out of contract at the bet365 Stadium. Talks are ongoing between Allen and the club, but O'Neill's recent words suggest they are trying to cut their financial cloth accordingly.
READ MORE : Russell Martin says he turned down approach from rival club two weeks ago and reveals why
O'Neill said : "We've learned a lot in the period we've been at the club. We've gone through a process where we've had to let players go, players who the club spent money on and were expensive players for the club. As a result of that we're bringing typically younger players and less expensive players into the club, those are the parameters we have to work in and financial fair play is a big part of that as well.
"A big part of it is also securing the players who we believe will be very important for us in developing the club. Not just over the next six, 12, 18 months but even going forward from that. Looking from the back: Bursik, Souttar, Tymon all on long-term contracts, Tyrese, Jacob Brown and Wright-Phillips on long-term contracts. Jordan Thompson has signed a new contract as well.
"The age profile has changed quite a lot since we came into the building and now it's about adding the right bits of quality. We're operating in a way that we're not going to be able to spend money on players and supporters know that. We have to generate money out of the current squad and that money we generate we can try to put it to the best use possible."
Cardiff not in for Austin
Cardiff City are not interested in signing reported Swansea target Charlie Austin.
News emerged yesterday claiming that Austin was being tracked by both south Wales clubs, who is a free agent after being let go by QPR.
WalesOnline understands that the Bluebirds aren't tracking the former Southampton man. Swansea will likely be in the market for a striker this summer, with Joel Piroe set to be sold should a significant offer arrive for the Dutchman.
Austin's future is likely to be in MLS, though.
Martin turns down approach
Russell Martin says he and his agent were approached by a rival club earlier this month.
The head coach has overseen a huge playing style shift at the Swansea.com Stadium this season, and next term is set to be a big one, with the 36-year-old able to get a full pre-season under his belt.
He has frequently reiterated his happiness with life in south Wales and he gave the invitation short shrift. He said: "My agent rang me two weeks ago and said there's a club that would like to speak to you. I said I had absolutely no interest because we are really happy here.
"I think we are early on in a project we feel really passionate about. We left our old club early to come here, but it is probably one of the only clubs we would have done that for because of the Swansea way, the environment and the playing style.
"We are really excited to get to work in pre-season and carry on."
Cooper into play-offs as former Swans miss in shootout
Former Swansea manager Steve Cooper has made it to the Championship play-off final for the second year running after Nottingham Forest saw off Sheffield United on penalties.
The match at the City Ground was pulsating and swung both ways across 120 minutes of drama. With the scores tied at 3-3 on aggregate, it went to spot-kicks, and two former Swans who played under Cooper - Conor Hourihane and Morgan Gibbs-White - came up short, with Reds keeper Brice Samba saving their efforts.
Cooper will be hoping to go one better than last term, where Swansea lost 3-0 to Brentford at Wembley.
“We are hopefully going to give so many people a day to remember,” said Cooper.
“I can’t sum it up at the moment, the reality is that we have another step to go. To get through two legs of a semi-final play-off you have to do a bit of everything, you have to play well, have to suffer, have to have a bit of luck and dig in – all of the things you have to do to be a real team we have done.
"At times we haven’t played so good, but I’ve never seen teams be outstanding over two legs in the play-offs so I’m not ashamed of that one bit. The most important thing is that we’re through.
“We’ve been brilliant this season. We gave automatics a real push. We were outstanding at the weekend and that’s helped us get over the line. But these play-offs are a little bit different and you have to do a bit of everything to get through, and that’s what we’ve done."
Oba wins goal of the month
Michael Obafemi's strike against Cardiff City in the South Wales derby has been voted as the club's goal of the month.
It was always going to be one of the four registered against the Bluebirds that would win the monthly contest, and the former Southampton striker's first effort, which saw Joel Piroe and Jamie Paterson involved, was adjudged the best.
It was also voted goal of the season at the club's end-of-season awards earlier this month.
