Swansea City

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Vitor Matos says Swansea City have a vacancy for a wide player to compete for game-time with Ronald, Eom Jisung and Zeidane Inoussa.

Swansea also have Manuel Benson at their disposal as things stand, but Matos has indicated the on-loan Burnley winger is not part of his plans.

Instead the Swans are assessing options in the transfer market, with Crystal Palace's Jesurun Rak-Sakyi among their potential targets.

Asked about his options out wide, Matos said: "We have three players that can play naturally on that position they are all of them at the moment performing, which is good.

"Jisung just scored, Zeidane just scored, Ronny (Ronald) against Millwall had two chances and created chances then he had an assist, so he's as well performing. His work-rate is unbelievable and I really like that.

"Of course we are always trying to find different solutions and different kinds of profiles. [Winger] is a position where we have a space if we want to see it like that."

Benson has previously impressed in the Championship at Burnley, but the Angola international has made little impact in a Swansea shirt.

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Though Benson is training with his squad, Matos says the 28-year-old must go elsewhere to play regular football.

"We need to find a solution regarding the three involved, which is us, Benny (Benson) and Burnley, regarding what's best for everyone," he said.

"I think that's what we still are trying to find. The market is still open. It's clear from our side what we want. It's clear from the player's side as well what he wants in terms of expectations."

Matos last week described Rak-Sakyi, who had a loan spell at Sheffield United last season, as a "really interesting" player.

But Swansea are likely to face stiff competition for the 23-year-old's signature.

"He's still in the market so it's always a possibility, but nothing to add or to change regarding what I said," Matos said before Saturday's Championship fixture with Birmingham City.

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Vitor Matos reckons Filip Lissah will be best served staying in Scotland, for now, as the Swansea City youngster continues to impress for loan club Falkirk.

Lissah has been regarded as one of the players most likely to make the first-team breakthrough at Swansea ever since he joined as a 16-year-old after being released by Chelsea.

The defender made his one senior Swansea appearance to date in January 2024, but saw his progress stall last season thanks to a succession of injury problems.

However, Lissah is back making strides in 2025-26 having joined Falkirk on a season-long loan.

Now 21, Lissah has won praise for his performances with the Scottish Premiership club.

Lissah has so far made 16 Falkirk appearances and, despite Swansea's need for defensive reinforcements this month, Matos says there are no plans to bring the loan to a premature end.

"He needs to keep playing, getting exposure in a good level, performing like he has been," the Swansea head coach said.

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"We are happy [with the Falkirk loan], not only happy with the performance, but also happy with the things off the pitch. I think that's quite important when you speak about young players on a loan.

"So the plan is not to call him back, it's to finish the loan and that will be then a situation for the next season."

Lissah has operated in central defence at Swansea, but he has been deployed successfully at right-back by Falkirk.

He is under contract with the Swans until 2027, with the club having the option of extending the agreement by 12 months.

Matos, who has been in charge at Swansea since November, believes Lissah is a player who could eventually make a mark in his team.

"I've seen so far is a player that is performing really well, who has lot of potential for the future and he's someone that we need to see in pre-season," he said.

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Liam Cullen has handed Swansea City an injury boost with the Wales international back in contention for Saturday's Championship meeting with Birmingham City (17:30 GMT).

Cullen has missed Swansea's past four games with a calf problem picked up at Coventry City on 26 December.

While the 26-year-old has often been deployed in a midfield role this season, he will offer Swansea a welcome option up front in the continued absence of Adam Idah.

With the Republic of Ireland international out for three months due to a hamstring problem, youngster Bobby Wales has been Swansea's only back-up to leading scorer Zan Vipotnik in Cullen's absence.

While Cullen may not be regarded as an out-and-out striker, Swansea boss Vitor Matos says he could be an alternative to Vipotnik "in a different kind of profile".

"He has that flexibility of playing as a player between the lines, or as a nine, if you want, as a false nine," Matos added.

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Vitor Matos says Ollie Cooper has a chance to re-establish himself at Swansea City after his Wigan Athletic loan spell was cut short.

Cooper had been due to stay with the Latics for the whole season but returned to Swansea earlier this month having made only 13 appearances for the League One club.

The Wales midfielder, 26, cannot play for another team this season having featured for Swansea in the EFL Cup tie against Crawley Town in August.

Cooper will hope to play some part when Swansea host Birmingham City on Saturday (17:30 GMT) having been an unused substitute in the Welsh club's two matches since he returned.

"He is a player from the academy, someone that grew into the club, so we are happy that he is back here with us, where he belongs," said Swansea head coach Matos.

"We will see how he finds his space in the squad. There are a lot of players in his position. We are happy with him. He is training well."

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Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, Watford's Javi Gracia, Sergej Jakirovic of Hull City and Swansea head coach Vitor Matos have been nominated for the Championship's manager of the month award for December.

McKenna has moved Ipswich into the top three and within two points of second-placed Middlesbrough after taking 14 points from their seven games last month, which included two wins over leaders Coventry.

Watford reappointed Gracia as head coach in October and an unbeaten run in December has pushed them into the play-off places, with the Hornets currently on a four-game winning run in the league.

Jakirovic has taken Hull City into promotion contention with wins at Middlesbrough and Millwall.

Swansea boss Matos started his reign with successive defeats but four wins from their six games in December has taken the Welsh side eight points clear of the relegation zone.

The winner will be announced on Friday, 16 January.

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Joel Cotterill has joined Dundee on loan from Swansea City for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

The Wales Under-21 international spent the opening half of the current campaign with Bristol Rovers and featured 16 times across all competitions for the League Two club.

The attacking midfielder was recalled by the Swans earlier this month, but will now see out the rest of the season in Scotland.

He will link up with Swansea and Wales youth team-mate Cameron Congreve at the Scottish Premiership club.

Cotterill - who has made one senior appearance for Swansea - is under contract with the Swans until the summer of 2027.

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Swansea City are in talks with Burnley over the future of Manuel Benson, but there is no guarantee that the winger's loan spell with the Championship club will be cut short this month.

Benson has been on the fringes at Swansea after joining in September on a deal for the remainder of the season.

The Swans are interested in bring Benson's loan to an early conclusion during the January transfer window, but that will only happen if all parties agree on the idea.

Benson has made eight appearances for the Swans, including just one league start.

"At the moment we are finding the best solution for all of us in terms of the future," said Swansea head coach Vitor Matos.

"Everything can change in football so quickly. We are talking to find the best solution."

Benson has played only once under Matos, as a second-half substitute when Swansea were beaten at home by Derby in the Portuguese's first game in charge in November.

The Angola international went away to the Africa Cup of Nations in last month and has not featured since for Swansea even though his country's involvement at the tournament ended on 29 December.

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Ben Lloyd will remain part of Newport County's League Two relegation fight after extending his loan spell at Rodney Parade until the end of the season.

Swansea City academy product Lloyd joined the Exiles in July on a deal running until January.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has since made 23 appearances for Newport, scoring once.

"County look forward to Ben's career continuing to flourish in his remaining period at NP19," Newport said.

Wales Under-21 international Lloyd is under contract at Swansea until 2027.

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

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Head coach Vitor Matos insists there were "a few good things" to take from Swansea City's FA Cup third-round defeat to West Brom.

Swansea's loss on penalties came in the third meeting between the sides since late November.

One major positive was the debut of Joel Ward and Matos was full of praise for the former Crystal Palace defender.

"Joel gives us experience and leadership," Matos said.

"He's a real top pro and his signing gives us options, including moving [Ethan] Galbraith back into midfield, which was good to see."

Swansea showed resilience after falling behind in extra time, with Zeidane Inoussa scoring his first goal for the club to force penalties.

Matos highlighted the equaliser as another encouraging sign.

"The resilience the boys showed was important," Matos said. "We keep pushing, training and improving."

Attention now turns to the Championship, with Swansea eight points above the relegation zone and nine off the play-off places.

They welcome Birmingham City to the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday, 17 January (17:30 GMT), with the Blues chasing a third straight win after back-to-back 3-2 victories over league leaders Coventry and League Two side Cambridge United.

But Matos remained guarded on potential January business.

"My focus is just to improve the players I have," he said.

Left-back Ishe Samuel Smith is expected to miss around three weeks with a groin injury, and with youngster Bobby Wales the only fit back-up to striker Zan Vipotnik, Swansea may yet need reinforcements.

Despite Wales and Malick Yalcouye missing in the West Brom shootout, Matos praised their contributions.

"Malick came into the game really well and we created chances straight away, " Matos said.

"Bobby brought the energy we needed when Vipotnik was tired. They'll be stronger after that."

Pundits Dion Dublin and Phil Jones join host Kelly Somers to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's FA Cup ties.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to selected full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Derby County 1-3 Leeds United

• Portsmouth 1-4 Arsenal

• Norwich City 5-1 Walsall

• West Ham United 2-1 Queens Park Rangers

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Head coach Vitor Matos refused to be drawn on Swansea City's interest in Jesurun Rak-Sakyi after the Crystal Palace winger was recalled from his loan at Turkish club Çaykur Rizespor.

Matos has described the 23-year-old as a "really interesting" player who "has a lot of things we like".

Since then, Palace have cut short Rak-Sakyi's loan in Turkey to fuel speculation that another move could be imminent.

But Matos played that down by saying: "No, nothing to add about that."

Asked if Rak-Sakyi was still a player of interest for Swansea, Matos added: "I think not only for us, I think he's a player of interest of a lot of teams.

"That's why he played last season at Sheffield United. So he's a player who has a lot of things, like I said, that we like, but that doesn't mean anything for the future."

Matos was speaking after Swansea lost their third-round FA Cup tie at home to West Bromwich Albion after a penalty shootout on Sunday.

The match featured a Swans debut for former Palace defender Joel Ward, who signed on a short-term deal until the end of the season on Friday to become the Welsh club's first signing of the January window.

"I'm really happy for him," said Matos.

"Joel gave us experience, leadership, and I think that's quite important as well as a group to have someone like him. So that's why I'm really pleased with the signing."

Meanwhile, Ishe Samuels-Smith, the Swansea defender on loan from Chelsea is facing three weeks out with a groin injury.

There are eight third-round ties in the FA Cup on Sunday - as Premier League and Championship teams enter the competition - and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Derby v Leeds (12:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Derby & BBC Radio Leeds

• Portsmouth v Arsenal (14:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Radio Solent

• Hull v Blackburn (14:30) - BBC Radio Humberside & BBC Radio Lancashire

• Norwich v Walsall (14:30) - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, BBC Radio Norfolk & BBC Radio WM

• Sheff Utd v Mansfield (14:30) - BBC Radio Sheffield & BBC Radio Nottingham

• Swansea v West Brom (14:30)

• West Ham v QPR (14:30) - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Radio London

• Man Utd v Brighton (16:30) - BBC Radio Manchester and BBC Radio Sussex

Kick-off times GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction here

And find out how to follow the FA Cup across the BBC this weekend here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Derby County v Leeds United" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Portsmouth v Arsenal", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

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BBC Sport asked Swansea City fans for their views on potential player recruitment during the January transfer window.

Here are some of the responses:

Jof - We definitely need an 'enforcer'. We are lacking 'mettle' as a team, with too many examples of weakness in 1on1 battles at an individual level which creates the same weakness at a team level. I want to see a strong-willed, highly verbal player, that can create the battling ethos that we are lacking as a team.

Mark - Number one target needs to be a right-back, Josh Key's injured and his confidence is shot to pieces, [Ethan] Galbraith is doing an amazing job there but he needs to be in the middle of the park. Number two for me is a RW as Ronald needs competition there as I feel hes not delivering performances right now and lastly number three for me would be a pacey centre-back.

Richard - Priority is a right-back. Key sadly is not good enough and our star player Galbraith has to play in midfield. We need another striker to support [Zan] Vipotnik and a right winger who can cross the ball as Ronald is pathetic at that.

Simon - At the Millwall match it was clear that [Lawrence] Vigouroux needs a stronger defence in front of him.

Brian - We definitely need a striker, we have had so many chances to score more than one goal per game, we are playing some good football since Matos has taken over but we just don't finish games off. More goals needed.

Gareth - I don't think we need another centre-forward even with [Adam] Idah off for a while. What we need is regularly passed balls into the box. Vipotnik will do the rest. Tymon is a great crosser but we need both wingers to up their game and have a better end product and go for the pass not glory - too many wasted opportunities through poor thinking.

Karl - Right-back and winger at the very least.

Paul - Desperate for a second fit striker, also a right-back to free up Galbraith and play him in his most effective position.