Swansea City marginally escaped relegation this term and Paul Clement has already started planning for the next season. According to reports, he is interested in signing Hoffenheim striker Sandro Wagner. The lanky German has been a huge hit in the Bundesliga this season scoring 11 goals this term and setting up another four. Clement will be looking for a suitable replacement for Fernando Llorente who might leave the club this summer.
Wagner’s prolific scoring ability has earned him a maiden call-up to the Confederations Cup squad for Germany. The 6’4 striker has been in demand and Swansea are leading the race to land him. Llorente had been linked with Chelsea before but he opted to stay in Wales and helped the club survive relegation. But he made it clear recently that if another opportunity arises, he might reconsider his options. Llorente’s future is hanging by a thread and Clement doesn’t want to take a chance.
Wagner will be an upgrade to Llorente given his age and form. Llorente is currently 32 and there is a slight possibility that he might falter to cope up with the workload as the competition in the Premier League is increasing by the day.
But Wagner’s playing style is similar to Llorente and the 29 years old has a lot to offer in the coming days. Hoffenheim have finished fourth in the Bundesliga and have earned the right to compete in the Champions League for the first time. Clement will have a rough idea as the Swansea coach was Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant for a brief period at Bayern Munich and had the chance to watch him from the dugout.
However, the German striker is also on the radar of Bayern Munich and he might not resist moving back to the club from where he started his playing career. He came through the ranks of Bayern and had stints with Werder Bremen, Hertha Berlin and other German clubs. But he has never plied his trade outside Germany and the idea of playing in a new country might tempt him for a move.
Hoffenheim will be rubbing shoulders with others in the Champions League next term and will be hoping that he will stay. Also, this is his maiden campaign for the German club as he came there just last summer and after a stupendous success, it will be very foolish for them to get rid of him and let him join Swansea.
