By David Williams
Russell Martin expects yet another turbulent transfer window for Swansea City, but Joe Allen’s return provides some optimism ahead of the FA Cup.
Russell Martin’s side have endured an inconsistent season so far, and while an FA Cup trip to Ashton Gate to face Bristol City awaits Swansea this weekend, the transfer rumours surrounding Martin’s players show no sign of going away.
Republic of Ireland striker Michael Obafemi, 22, and attacking midfielder Jamie Paterson, 31, are both said to be available to leave the Liberty this January window, having failed to reach the heights of last season.
Martin insists that the door is not yet closed for either player but admits he can’t control what happens to two of Swansea’s key men.
Linked with a move to Burnley in the summer, Obafemi has struggled with his form this season, having not been allowed to leave the Swansea side. Meanwhile, Patterson has interest from Coventry City.
Russell Martin said: “There’s lots of interest, as there would be, in him (Obafemi) and Pato (Paterson)”.
“They are both players who have shown, last season particularly, that they can be effective performers at this level.
“We stay in touch; we talk about it. I had a really good chat with Michael on Tuesday. He is in a good place – we are just waiting to see what happens.”
Both players have at times wowed supporters, but they have also suffered difficult periods at the Swansea.com Stadium. The pair were both star performers for Russell Martin last year.”
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Patterson contributed to 18 goals in Swansea’s Championship campaign, scoring nine, while Obafemi scored 12 goals after a slow start to life in Landore.
“For both of them the door is not shut here, but whilst everything’s going on, we will just have to wait and see how it affects them and how it affects the group,” added Martin.
“We are prepared for anything. If at some point an offer comes in that either player likes and we like, and it helps us do the things we feel we really need to do, we’ll see.
“At the moment they are here, training hard and trying to force their way back into our plans as quickly as possible.
“It’s January – I don’t have a clue what’s going to go on. I would be very surprised if no-one else left before the end of the window and I’d be surprised if we didn’t get anyone in.”
Morgan Whittaker has returned to training after being recalled from his loan spell at Plymouth Argyle, whereas Brandon Cooper, Fin Stevens and Armstrong Oko-Flex have all left Swansea in this window.
On a positive note, Wales midfielder Joe Allen is looking forward to getting in regular minutes again for his old team as he targets a more positive 2023, hopefully putting aside his injury woes and Wales’ disappointing World Cup display.
The 32-year-old returned to South Wales in the summer, but has struggled with his reoccurring hamstring injury, which limited him to two appearances at the World Cup for Wales, playing against Iran and England.
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Allen was excellent sitting in front of Swansea’s defence. Despite a 2-1 defeat, the 32-year-old looked back to his best, as he aims to contribute for the rest of the season.
Allen said: “It’s been a stop-start season.”
“I’m a bit disappointed with how much I’ve played so far. It’s been a strange season because I was injured when I arrived, so I was already playing catch up. Then, just as I was getting up to speed and in a good place, I had another injury which laid me off for a while.
“Then there was the World Cup which split the season, so it’s been all over the place really.
“A big target for me is to have a much bigger impact in the second half of the season.
“The reason I came back to the club was to really help the team get better and progress and I’m really confident I can do that this year.
“Generally, in my career, I’ve been able to play a lot of games and I can’t see why I wouldn’t be able to do that again.
“Hopefully, I can stay fit and play a lot more.”
