It wouldn’t take too much to please Swansea supporters, with the bar set as low as Eder and Baf Gomis, who did their best to give a passable impression of football players, last season. The new signings of Borja Baston and Fernando Llorente does go some way in redeeming the ineptness of 2015-16.
However, with the free transfer window still open, it’d give Francesco Guidolin ample opportunity to shore up his resources. T4O goes out of its way to pick 5 of the best free transfers for the Swans to remedy their ailments. The list contains one striker, two central defenders, one central midfielder, and a wing-forward who would walk into most mid-table to lower rung Premier League sides, and players, more importantly, would address the glaring weakness of the Welsh club. Your move, signor Guidolin.
Kevin Kuranyi
Swansea City are a bit light in the striker department, aren’t they? Italian manager Francesco Guidolin will be well aware of the fact, and could be tempted to scour the free transfer market to embolden their attacking line-up. If he indeed is, he needn’t look further than the 6’3″ frame of the former German international wrecking ball.
His stratospheric physical attributes would see him seamlessly fit into the rigours of the Premier League, and provide the perfect back-up option, to bring off the bench, to give either Llorente or Baston’s tired legs a rest, or even go all out to throw him in the mix alongside either Spaniard. His stellar ability to play with his back to goal would seem him facilitate the forward running of Sigurdsson, Barrow, Routledge and Fer; with his knack of slipping in the occasional through ball.
His movement and front-footed presence in the box would be a constant menace to cope with, positioning himself with a late run, awaiting a whipped in cross.
Phil Mexes
Swansea City would be hurting this season, after the departure of their talisman, Ashley Williams. His aura of authority and sure-footedness, despite being one of the heaviest, heavy-footed players in the Premier League, seems conspicuous by its absence from the heart of the Swansea defence.
Apart from his ridiculous goals he brings into the equation, that’d do his former AC Milan team-mate Zlatan proud, the Frenchman also imbues leadership qualities that’d be much-needed in the Swans backline. The 34-year old still has a good two seasons left in his tank, and was ranked amongst the most technically proficient ball-playing centre-backs in Europe not too long. His European class and composure on the ball will not go unappreciated at the Liberty Stadium.
Martin Caceres
Another one to bolster Swans defensive ranks, Martin Caceres, 5-times Serie A winner, has been a treble winner with one of the best teams in the world, Barcelona, also bagging a Champions League medal in the process. The 29-year-old plays with a knife between his teeth, and is capable, believe it or not, turning out at, at least 5 different positions on the pitch – all across the back, and even deployed as a central defensive midfielder by his former team, Juventus, by Tony Conte, the now Chelsea manager. No surprises then, to see Chelsea lining up a move for him.
Junior Hoilett
At 26 and without a club, the fleet-footed Canadian’s stock has plummeted. Not too long ago, he was being courted by Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool and Wenger’s Arsenal, only to QPR turn his head with a fat dab of cash as a sign on fee and bonuses. Swansea, who have a clear dearth of consistent output from the wings, with Routledge turning up for 2-3 matches in a season, and Barrow only just making the grade, Guidolin could take on the chance of revitalising the winger’s career, and their top-flight chances.
Raul Meireles
An injury to Sigurdsson could spell doom for Swansea, with him being the only source of ready goals from midfield. And there couldn’t be a better option available than the stylish Portuguese man, with metronomic qualities is capable of switching the tempo of the game at will. A Champions League winner with Chelsea, his off-the-ball movement gets him into positions at the edge of the D, where he either lays the ball on for a late runner from midfield or take a shot on from the inside of his boots. Being 33, and naturally fit athlete, he’d easily has 2 seasons in the grind of top-tier football.
