Paul Clement has revealed he would be keen to rekindle Swansea City’s interest in Nacer Chadli.
The Swans face Chadli’s club West Bromwich Albion in a critical game at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday, although the Belgian midfielder will be missing through injury.
Chadli was a target for Clement before the season began, but West Brom were reluctant to sell even though the player was believed to have fallen out with former manager Tony Pulis.
The Welshman has since been sacked and replaced by Alan Pardew and the change at The Hawthorns could make a January transfer window approach more difficult, admitted Clement.
Chadli has made just two Premier league appearances so far this season and Clement said: “I think he is the right profile, without talking specifically about him.
“He is a multi-position player. He can score, he can assist, he is decent on set-pieces.
“But it might prove difficult with him now, he has got a new manager and a clean slate.”
Clement has targeted the signing of forward players as his January priority and wants Swansea to move swiftly at the start of the window.
“We need to act on things quickly,” he said. “Otherwise it is another month and a half if it goes to the end of the window.
“The priority is the front positions, people who can create. We need one really good one, someone who is going to come in and make an immediate impact. Come straight into the starting side, but that’s not easy to find.
“Really good ones are at other clubs, and other clubs do not want to let them go. Maybe it will be two, but maybe not more than that.”
Clement admits he is wary of the Pardew factor as his struggling side prepare for a crucial relegation battle.
Pardew takes charge of West Brom for the second time since succeeding Pulis last month and the stakes could not be much higher at the Liberty Stadium.
Swansea slipped to the bottom of the Premier League last weekend, but a first victory in two months would see them cut the gap to 17th-placed West Brom to one point.
“Both teams really need the points and are looking for some form,” Clement added.
“I don’t think it is a good situation playing against a team with a new manager. In saying that any new manager needs time to change ideas and put his stamp on the team.
“I am sure Alan will be working really hard with the players to get his ideas across in a short amount of time. How quickly can he do that?”
Pulis’ stay at West Brom came to an end with Albion fans disenchanted over the style of play which many labelled as boring.
Pardew began with a goalless home draw against Crystal Palace last weekend, but Clement detected a more adventurous approach to Albion’s play.
“You could see a couple of little changes in the Palace game with adjustments at the front of the team,” Clement said.
“We’ll see more of an attacking line-up than we did under the previous manager. They are very much in a similar situation to us.
“They are lacking confidence and goals but still have a lot of threats in the team.
“And with a new manager underneath that they could be very dangerous.”
