Swansea City

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Vitor Matos says it is "clear" what is required as Swansea City look to put the finishing touches to their squad in the final stages of the transfer window.

Swansea have made five permanent signings so far this summer, with defender Stephen Welsh, attacking midfielder Elijah Just, wingers Joseph Opoku and Moussa Yeo and striker Ross Stewart moving to the Welsh club.

They have also brought in left-back Tiago Parente on loan, leaving centre-back and central midfield as the two areas where Matos remains keen to strengthen.

The need for a new face at the heart of defence has increased after Cameron Burgess (pictured above) suffered an Achilles injury which is likely to rule him out for the season.

"It's clear the profile [Swansea want], so it's now about finding the right ones and seeing which possibilities arise for us," Matos said.

"The market is still open, that means we as a club always try to see if there are opportunities and possibilities to improve the squad in terms of strengths and profiles.

"If it happens, it will happen, if it does not happen, it will not happen. Let's see."

Young striker Bobby Wales has become the latest player to leave Swansea this summer after he completed a loan move to Scottish Premiership side Dundee.

The Swans have sold Liam Cullen, Cameron Congreve and youngster Kyrell Wilson, while Sam Parker and Ollie Cooper have also departed on loan.

Florian Bianchini is among the other fringe players who could leave, but Matos says Zeidane Inoussa remains in his plans even though the Swedish winger has not been involved so far this season.

"He's part of the squad," Matos said.

"It's just with the possibilities we have at the moment, he was not in the squad for the first game [at Stoke]. Let's see for the next one."

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Striker Bobby Wales says Dundee manager Steven Pressley has given him "belief" after moving to Dens Park on a season-long loan from Swansea City.

The 21-year-old arrives after fellow forward and Dundee captain Simon Murray, 34, was ruled out for an extended period with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Scotland Under-21 cap Wales started his career at Kilmarnock, had a productive loan spell at Alloa Athletic and then joined Swansea last summer.

He has made only five substitute appearances for the Welsh club, scoring once, and also struggled for game time on loan at Huddersfield in the second half of last season.

All in all, Wales has scored 21 goals in 84 senior appearances.

"I'm familiar with my surroundings and the league," Wales told club media. "I'm just really happy to be playing football again.

"I want to try and score as many goals as I can. I don't think I've had a chat with a manager that has given me this much belief before."

Wales could make his debut in Saturday's Scottish Premiership trip to face city rivals Dundee United.

"You couldn't ask for a better game to start with and go and make a statement," he added. "As a team I believe we can do well."

Pressley is "very excited" to be working with Wales.

"He's a young player with high potential and already a proven track record within the Scottish Premiership," said the manager.

"It's our job to make him a better player and we think he's got big potential and a high ceiling."

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Championship football returns to the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday with Vitor Matos hoping for more of the same on home soil this season.

Having begun the new league campaign with a rousing victory at Stoke City, Swansea will aim to make it two second-tier wins from two when Sheffield United come to south Wales.

Beyond the Blades' visit, the goal for Swansea is to replicate the sort of consistency on home soil which was key to their progress under Matos last season.

When he took charge last November, Swansea had taken only nine points from their first eight home league games.

Despite defeat first up against Derby County, Matos' Swans claimed 30 points from 15 home fixtures in 2025-26.

During the period Matos was at the helm, only Coventry City and Ipswich Town – the two sides who won automatic promotion – and Southampton claimed more home Championship points than Swansea.

It was a laudable effort for a side who looked vulnerable when Matos took the reins.

Should Swansea manage two points per home game throughout 2026-27, they will give themselves a serious chance of mounting a play-off push.

The 2-1 victory at Stoke City last weekend was the first time Swansea have won their opening league game of a season in the past six years.

It is eight years since the Swans won their first two matches of an EFL campaign and they come up against a Sheffield United side who were held 0-0 at home by Birmingham City last weekend.

• Swansea City have won just one of their past eight league meetings with Sheffield United (D2 L5), though it was a 1-0 home win last season.

• Sheffield United failed to win either of their league games against Swansea City last term (D1 L1) but they have not gone three in a row without victory against the Swans over consecutive seasons since 1956-57/1957-58.

• Swansea have won each of their past two opening home games of a league campaign, including a 1-0 win over Sheffield United last season. The Swans last won more in succession between 1995-1999 (five wins).

• Sheffield United have won their first away game in just one of their past 14 league campaigns (D3 L10 since 2012-13), beating Preston North End 2-0 in 2024-25.

• On the opening day of the 2026-27 Championship season, Sheffield United recorded the fewest overall shots of any side (3), while also amassing a total of just 0.29 xG (Expected Goals) – their lowest in the league since registering 0.24 vs Leeds in October 2024.

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Former Swansea City forward Lee Trundle believes Zan Vipotnik is worth at least £20m given his clinical touch in front of goal.

Slovenia international Vipotnik netted 23 league goals to end the 2025-26 campaign as the Championship's top scorer.

The Swans recently rejected a bid worth in the region of £10m from Premier League side Hull City for the 24-year-old forward.

Trundle was eager to point to Vipotnik's ruthless ability when making a case for the frontman being worth significantly more than the Tigers offered.

Only three teams had a lower expected goals (XG) figure than Swansea's total of 51.1 in the league last term.

As for Vipotnik himself, his XG was 14.99, meaning he outperformed that figure by 8.01.

"You've just finished as top goalscorer in the Championship in a team that's probably created the least chances out of [those of] every other goalscorer on that board," Trundle said on the BBC's Feast of Football podcast.

"I just think, looking at that, you've got to be looking at £20m-plus, easily."

Image source, Getty Images

Vipotnik has four years to run on his Swans contract, and Trundle says tying the forward down to a longer-term deal in March was hugely beneficial for both the club and the player.

"That automatically bumps the price up because he's got another four years here. If you want him, come and pay the money for him," added Trundle, who now works at Swansea as an ambassador.

"That was right from the club to do it. I think it's the right decision for Vipotnik as well because, if you sign a contract, he's got a pay rise. If someone wants you, they're going to come in and pay it anyway."

Former Swansea player Andy Robinson has described Hull's offer for Viptonik as "pathetic".

And ex-Wales striker Nathan Blake pointed to the hefty sums former Swans Oli McBurnie and Rhian Brewster have been sold for in the past as reasons why Swansea should demand a far bigger fee for Vipotnik.

"It's derisory - he was top scorer in the Championship and you think you can get him for £10m," said Blake.

"If you go back seven years, Swansea had Oli McBurnie, he went for more than £20m, then they had Rhian Brewster on loan from Liverpool and he went [from Liverpool to Sheffield United] for more than £20m.

"Hold on a minute, you've got the top scorer in the Championship here, in this market and in this modern day, if he's not worth £25m to £30m, there's something wrong."

Striker Adam Idah says the Swansea City players and fans feel a good season lies ahead.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Adam Idah needed only seconds after coming on at Stoke to strike the blow which gave Swansea City the ideal start to the new Championship campaign.

With Zan Vipotnik nursing a calf injury, Idah was Swansea's first choice up front during the majority of pre-season, and started the EFL Cup defeat to Birmingham City last weekend.

Yet when league action began in the Potteries, Idah was back in the position he found himself in all too often last season – on the Swansea bench.

Vipotnik started at the bet365 Stadium but, in truth, had little impact on the game, even if his attempt to head goalwards turned into an assist for Joseph Opoku's first-half equaliser.

The Slovenia international was the star of Swansea's attack in 2025-26, but it was Idah who stole the headlines in Stoke when he rounded off a slick attacking move with a crisp finish to seal all three points for Vitor Matos' team.

After a £6m move from Celtic last September, Idah's first season at Swansea was not easy, with a serious hamstring injury and Vipotnik's form combining to ensure he played only a limited role.

Stoke was Idah's 20th league substitute appearance for Swansea, for whom he has made a mere six Championship starts.

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But the Republic of Ireland international is now up to seven Swans goals in the second tier.

On average, he has scored once every 121 minutes while on the pitch, which is an outstanding return.

The challenge in this campaign for Idah is to get more game-time.

Vipotnik's situation will have an impact, of course, with Swansea waiting to see whether last season's 25-goal leading scorer will still be their player when the transfer window shuts in just over a fortnight's time.

And this season there is a new contender for opportunities in Swansea's attack, with summer recruit Ross Stewart hoping to be available for the first time when Sheffield United visit next weekend.

Swansea have work to do in the closing stages of the market, with greater depth required in midfield and central defence,

But certainly, head coach Matos cannot complain about his options in attack.

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Vitor Matos said he was feeling "emotional" as he celebrated Swansea City's triumph at Stoke City by sprinting across the pitch to savour the moment with travelling fans.

Swansea began the new Championship season by claiming only a second win in their past 16 visits to Stoke – and they were forced to do it the hard way after falling behind early on.

Joseph Opoku capped his impressive league debut with a rapid equaliser before Adam Idah scored with his first touch after coming off the bench in the second half to prompt Matos' flamboyant celebrations at full-time.

"We are really pleased with the fans how they travelled here and supported the team," the Swansea head coach said.

"That was unbelievable to see - they are a big part of what we are trying to do.

"You get emotional in that moment. We wanted to give them something to cheer and I think we did that today."

Idah was sent on alongside Eom Jisung and Melker Widell as Matos made a triple change in an attempt to halt was probably Stoke's best spell of the game around the hour mark.

Within seconds, Idah met Josh Tymon's low cross with the game's pivotal touch.

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Matos insisted his substitutes deserved the credit for changing the tide of the contest, saying: "I think it's more about the players. They came into the game with the right mindset and mentality.

"I am proud of them because of that - it's them understanding it will be a long season, we need everyone.

"If they can have an impact, if it's for five minutes it's five minutes, or if it's for 30 it's 30, that is nice to see."

A rare win at Stoke marks a fine way for Swansea to start the 2026-27 Championship campaign, with attention now turning to next weekend's home fixture against Sheffield United.

"It's always good to win… other teams won as well," Matos said.

"Now it's about preparing for the game against Sheffield United."

Image source, Rex Features

Defender Stephen Welsh is ready to hit the ground running for Swansea City in the Championship after Cameron Burgess' injury blow.

The Swans get their league campaign under way with a trip to Stoke on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Welsh will hope to make his club debut after he was an unused substitute in last weekend's 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat by Birmingham.

Vitor Matos had made all five of his allowed changes by the time that Burgess landed awkwardly, with a scan confirming that the Australia centre-back had ruptured his right Achilles.

His misfortune opens up a spot next to Ben Cabango, with Welsh aiming to grasp his chance if he gets the nod.

"When I signed I was ready to come in and play," said the former Celtic defender.

"I have come in with a winning mentality from where I am from, it's all about winning and performing. This is a great opportunity to start well.

"I personally want to play as many games as possible and know how challenging the Championship schedule can be with games coming thick and fast."

Welsh spent last season on loan at Motherwell and mutually agreed to terminate the final year of his Celtic contract in the summer.

It did not take long to secure his next destination.

"Within a few hours Swansea were on the phone," said the 26-year-old. "That was the main reason that I wanted to come down, how quickly they acted.

"Within a day I was on the phone to Vitor Matos, with him telling me about the club and what he wants to do this season, how he sees his back four working and what he wants from me personally.

"The way he spoke about the team was very positive, so within a few days I was signed and ready to go."

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Swansea City will again be without new recruit Ross Stewart when they begin the 2026-27 Championship season at Stoke City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Stewart joined Swansea on a free transfer earlier this month after failing to agree a new deal at Southampton.

The Scotland striker was not involved in last weekend's EFL Cup loss to Birmingham City having had no pre-season, and he will not be considered for the Stoke trip either as he continues to build fitness.

Swansea also continue to be without Goncalo Franco, while Cameron Burgess is expected to miss the entire league season because of an Achilles injury.

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Vitor Matos insists Zan Vipotnik is happy at Swansea City after Hull City's failed bid for the Slovenia international striker.

Hull are believed to have offered in the region of £10m initially for Vipotnik last weekend.

The bid was rejected by Swansea and, while Matos accepts there could be more interest in Vipotnik, he says last season's Championship top scorer is in no rush to move on.

"We're really happy with him, he is really happy with us," said the Swansea head coach.

"If the right offer comes then we speak, if not keep going.

"He's really happy here with the situation. Of course, the market is open and you never know, but I think it's part of being a professional and Vipi (Vipotnik) is a really good professional, that's why he needs to handle that like we all handle it.

"So what we need to do as a club is support and focus on what is important, that is go to Stoke [on Saturday] and do a really good game."

Earlier this week, Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic cast doubt over whether Hull will return with a fresh bid for Vipotnik.

Speaking specifically on the promoted Premier League side's offer, Matos said: "That is normal. One club does a proposal, the other club sees if it's good, if it's not good, it rejects it."

When asked whether he expects the Tigers to make a second attempt to land Vipotnik, Matos added: "That's question for Hull, not for me."

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Boss Sergej Jakirovic has cast doubt over whether Hull City will return with a second offer for Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik.

News emerged on Monday that Hull, who won promotion to the Premier League last season, had seen a bid for Vipotnik rejected by Swansea.

The Slovenia international, 24, was the leading scorer in the Championship in 2025-26.

Vipotnik netted 25 Swansea goals last season – including 23 in the league – and scored three times for his country.

Jakirovic was asked during an appearance on BBC Radio Humberside on Tuesday whether Hull had made an offer for Vipotnik.

"Yes but [it was] not enough and that's it," he said.

"Two days ago we send a bid and they reject it."

When asked whether the Tigers would make a second bid for a player he previously worked with at Maribor, Jakirovic added: "I don't know. I think no."