Swansea City are set to lose defender Nathan Wood this summer, as Russell Martin looks set to raid his former club for one of their prize assets ahead of Southampton’s 2024/25 league campaign, as they look to retain their spot in the Premier League, after clinching promotion via a win over Leeds United in the Championship play-off final last term.
It’ll leave a bitter taste in the mouth for Swansea though, with Martin signing one of the club’s key players, which could see them struggle defensively for the upcoming campaign in the second-tier of English football. Wood made 29 appearances in all competitions for the Swans last term, and he clearly has caught the eye, with Southampton coming in for his services this summer.
Swansea will be looking to improve on a 14th-place finish in the Championship last season, which is certainly achievable, having hit a strong run of form towards the end of last term. BonusCodeBets have revealed that the Swans are priced at 9/2 with Sky Bet to finish in the top-six next season, which seems generous given their eye-catching finish in the 2023/24 league campaign.
With Wood departing the club, it’ll be interesting to see which player Swansea look to target as his potential replacement.
Ethan Pye
Pye has been with Stockport County since 2021, and has been a key player for them, and played his part in the club’s promotion into League One last season. The left-sided central defender made 42 appearances in all competitions for Stockport next season, and so there doesn’t seem to be any doubts as to whether he’s good enough for first-team football at the age of 21.
He’s still got his best years ahead of him, and if he can make a positive start in League One this term, then you’d imagine that it’ll only be a matter of time before Pye is attracting interest from other clubs in future transfer windows.
Tyler Bindon
Bindon has been a standout player for Reading in League One since signing for the Royals, who have had plenty of off-field problems caused by their owner Dai Yongge. The 19-year-old was primarily signed for Reading’s academy, but found himself in the first-team picture after the club started the 2023/24 season poorly. It’s no coincidence that they showed improvement since Bindon came into the starting XI, and they finished last year’s league campaign in impressive fashion, avoiding relegation into League Two despite having two points deductions to their name.
Bindon is out of contract at the end of the 2024/25 season, and given Reading’s off-field situation, it’ll be interesting to see whether any clubs test their resolve with a formal bid for Bindon, who is a player that looks destined for the Premier League in the future given his composure on the ball.
Sean Roughan
Roughan is playing his football for Lincoln City in League One, and has caught the eye with some strong displays for the Imps, who narrowly missed out on a top-six finish in the third-tier. The Republic of Ireland youth international made 44 appearances for Lincoln City last season, and was one of the players to catch the eye for all the right reasons.
He’s been with the Imps since 2020, and is contracted with them until the summer of 2025, and so with him entering the final year of his contract, it’s not a certainty that he’ll stick around with the club, especially if other clubs are to come in for him. He’d be a shrewd signing for Swansea, as he’s got his best years ahead of him at the age of 21.
Dion Sanderson
Sanderson has experience of playing in the Championship, but does have a relegation on his CV from last season, having dropped out of the second-tier of English football whilst with Birmingham City. Sanderson has also played for the likes of QPR, Sunderland, and Cardiff City in loan spells whilst contracted to Wolves.
He’s made 104 appearances in the Championship in his career, and so any potential move for Sanderson wouldn’t come with much risk as to whether he’d be able to adjust to the demands of Championship football. He’s contracted with Birmingham City until the summer of 2027 and so it’s likely that any potential suitors would have to stump up a sizeable amount of money to land his signature.
Ashley Phillips
The defender is currently on the books with Tottenham Hotspur, after moving to the Premier League after coming through the senior setup with Blackburn Rovers. Phillips caught the eye with a number of eye-catching displays for the Lancashire-based side in the Championship, and the centre-back could be eyeing a loan move for the upcoming season.
At the age of 19, he’ll be looking to play regular football, and it’s highly unlikely that he’ll manage to obtain that whilst with Spurs. A move to a club like Swansea City could be the ideal move for all parties.
