Laudrup looks at Spaniard to replace Spurs’ Caulker at Swansea
Published:A new central defender is one of the first items on the agenda of new Swansea boss Michael Laudrup and reports suggest that a £2.5m offer has already been tabled for Chico.
Steven Caulker enjoyed a successful loan stint in Wales last season from Tottenham, but is unlikely to return on a permanent basis as his chances of first-team action at White Hart Lane have improved.
Ryan Nelsen is out of contract, Ledley King’s playing career seems to be over, Vedran Corluka has been sold and William Gallas is expected to leave before the end of the transfer window, leaving Caulker as first replacement to Michael Dawson and Younes Kaboul.
Therefore, a new partner is required at Swansea for Ashley Williams and Laudrup has identified Chico, who enjoyed a promising loan spell of his own last season at Real Mallorca.
Mallorca enjoyed the best defensive record in La Liga outside of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Valencia, but do not have the required funds to push through a permanent deal.
Genoa currently own Chico, but are happy to allow him to leave permanently.
One of the perks of bringing in Laudrup as manager is his better contacts internationally and there is a strong likelihood that he will be better equipped to look for value abroad.
Some greater attacking threat is the other aim of Laudrup especially after missing out on Gylfi Sigurdsson, with the leading two names linked to date being Jonathan de Guzman of relegated Spanish side Villarreal and French winger Edouard Duplan of Dutch club Utrecht.
Former manager Brendan Rodgers was seen as perhaps the biggest factor in Swansea’s survival last season and so many punters will feel that without him, the Swans may slump to a return to the Championship.
It is 7/4 that Swansea are relegated this season.
