James’s transfer to Manchester United completes remarkable rise

After a below- par season for the Red Devils, which saw manager Jose Mourinho controversially sacked after a 3-1 defeat to bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield, club legend, and scorer in that famous Champions League final in the Nou Camp in 1999, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, took the reigns as caretaker manager and form drastically improved.



After an impressive comeback at the Parc des Princes in the Champions League, his appointment was made permanent but since then United’s form has dipped drastically and they slumped to an underwhelming sixth place finish last season following some pretty uninspiring performances; condemning themselves to a place in the Europa League for the 2019/20 season.

With the rebuilding now underway at Old Trafford as Ole tries to overhaul his squad, the Norwegian has been searching for young, quick and hungry players and it seems like the Swan’s Daniel James is very close to a move to Salford in what some may see as a remarkable rise for the Welsh international.

James has gone from failing to break into the Shrewsbury town squad and having his loan terminated to being destined to play for one the most successful clubs in world football.

The 21-year-old has already suffered disappointment and heartbreak in his short career with a move to Leeds United breaking down six months ago which bought public frustration from James. The attacker has also suffered a major personal loss with the tragic sudden death of his father Kevan James at the age of 60.

Observers from inside the Liberty comment that he is very professional for such a young age and the move to Old Tafford comes after James stared for the Swans last term despite what turned out to be a pretty uninspiring season.

The wideman first garnered national attention following the Swans FA cup run last term; a run that was eventually ended in by eventual winners Manchester City in a controversial game that saw the Swans beaten late on, despite being 2-0 up.

After the game, Man City boss Pep Guardiola, who is regarded as one of greatest managers in the world, heaped praise on the welsh international’s performance after he gave Argentina centre-back Otamendi a run for his money.

James finished the season with final stats of 6 goals and 7 assists in all competitions. 

The transfer fee is rumoured to be around £15 million pounds, plus £3 million in add ons, which can only be positive for the Swans financially, although they are losing a top- quality player who provided so much last campaign.

With World Cup winner Steve Cooper coming to take the reigns at the Liberty, and with Plymouth star Ruben Lameiras rumoured to be coming through the door on a free, the money now needs to be reinvested wisely so the Swans can replace James and rebuild as they attempt to achieve promotion back to England’s top flight at the second attempt next season.

James was also rumoured to be wanted by Monaco, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham so the Swans had a near- impossible job in keeping him in the Championship.

Swans join race for Portuguese ace Lameiras

Since the sale of Gylfi Sigurðsson to Everton in August 2017, for a club record fee of £40 million, Swansea have failed to replace the attacking prowess offered by the Iceland international who scored 27 goals in 106 games for the Swans after joining on a permanent transfer. 

The following season the Swans added Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches to the ranks in an attempt to fill the void; a player who starred in Portugal’s shock Euro 2016 win. This move didn’t work out however and the Swans were subsequently relegated to the Championship for the 2018/19 season in which they never really set the world alight, finishing in 10th place. 

With the recent transfer of Daniel James to Manchester United for a fee rumoured to be around £18 million, Swansea are in desperate need of an attacking outlet as they aim to improve on last season’s mid- table finish.

One player strongly rumoured to be heading to Wales is Lameiras, who is out of contract at Plymouth Argyle and is set to leave the Devon club after the Pilgrims suffered a disappointing season- being relegated back to League 2 after promotion in 2016/17.

Lameiras was a fan favourite a Home Park and the Swans are reportedly interested in bringing the tricky winger in on a free transfer to the Liberty, although Ligue 1 club Bordeaux are also said to be interested in the Portuguese wide man.

Lameiras was a rare highlight in a drab season for the Pilgrims, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists in 45 games in all competitions; he was also named the club’s Player of the Year. His impressive performances in League 1 last season drew attention from many top club scouts so it could be a big coup for the Swans.

Before transferring to Argyle in 2017, Lameiras was a Coventry City player after being released from Spurs. He spent two seasons with the Sky Blues where he enjoyed success-including an EFL Trophy win at Wembley in 2016-17- but he moved to Home Park after Coventry were relegated to the fourth tier in 2017.

Lameiras is a tricky winger who would provide pace and skill going forward and create chances. At 24 years old he has many years still ahead of him to improve and flourish. Lameiras is also a versatile player who has played across the midfield throughout his career. The Lisbon- born forward excels in the number 10 role, with his agility and pace, and could provide a good attacking option for the Swans for the upcoming 2019/20 Championship season.

With Steve Cooper set to be announced as new Swans boss, Lameiras’s quick feet and pace make him an ideal fit for the Swansea style of play the club want to revert to.

However, can the Portuguese adapt to the added pace and quality off the Championship compared to League 1 if he does enter the Liberty as the Swans first summer signing?

Lameiras comes strongly recommended by Tottenham’s long-standing and highly respected academy director John McDermott and he could be developed into a star, as the clips below from his last campaign reveal:

World Cup winner Cooper tipped for Swans job

After a 7 year stay in the Premier League, which even included a Europa League campaign, Swansea were relegated back to the Championship in the 2017/18 season.

Carlos Carvalhal left, and Graham Potter subsequently took the reigns for the 2018/19 Championship season as he looked to fire the Swans straight back to the Premier League. This wasn’t the case as Swansea finished in 10th place- never really challenging for the play-offs. The end of 2018/19 season saw Potter depart after less than a year in charge for the vacant Brighton job after Chris Hughton was sacked, despite keeping the seagulls in the Premier League for a second season running.

Now, Steve Cooper is the surprise favourite to take the Swans job for the upcoming 2019/20 season. Cooper was the manager of the World Cup winning England U17 side in India in 2017 where he was credited with getting the best out off players such as Callum Hudson-Odoi, Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho who have recently played for the England senior team.

Cooper wants a chance at club management and, having been born in Pontypridd, the Swans job seems like it could prove to be the ideal fit for both parties.

Cooper came from nowhere to become favourite for the job after it seemed like Wales assistant manager Mark Bowen looked likely to take the hotseat owing to the fact that he’s a local lad from Neath, and a Swans fan from young, after watching them in the old Vetch field.

Swansea seemed the ideal job for Bowen and the fans would surely welcome him coming back to manage his boyhood club. He was the bookmaker’s favourite but is now out of the running along with former Sunderland manager Gus Poyet.

Coopers lack of experience and the fact he’s never managed a senior team are reasons why people are surprised he is favourite. However, the fact Cooper has got the best out of young players is said to work in his favour and it is hoped that if he does take the job that he can develop young players, which used to be a key part of what Swansea stand for.

Cooper was also the manager of Liverpool’s academy from 2008 to 2011, managing the likes of now treble- winning Raheem Sterling and Champions League winner Trent Alexander-Arnold. Coopers history with young players is impressive and he now fancy’s his first senior management job. Coopers England youngsters played fast, quick-flowing football in India, the style of football Swansea want to play.

Other candidates for the job include QPR caretaker manager John Eustace, Michael Appleton (who managed Oxford United when they shocked the Swans in the FA Cup 3rd round in 2016 beating them 3-2) is also a candidate. Cameron Toshack, a name infamous in welsh football is also in the running but Steve Cooper is the front runner with the bookmakers; being 1/5 on Paddy Power to take the vacant Swan’s job.