Some people really have got too much time on their hands…
Close season can be a frustrating time for someone who writes about football (or tries to, anyway) on a daily basis. A lack of action to review or preview, plus the removal of undoubted talking points means that, more often than not, the summer devolves into a game of 'pin the highly-rated player to a debatably suitable club - complete with sensationalist headline'. You know the ones I mean - over the last few days I've read blogs and articles from West Ham and Newcastle fans looking at whether their club could be interested in the signature of Wilfried Bony. One article even said there's no chance they are in for him - in that case what was the point of writing it? Either the people writing these types of articles are just chasing views for their websites, or they are completely deluded. Or both, perhaps.
On to some news, then. Well, of sorts. It's heavily reported that Sunderland have become the first to test the waters around Ashley Williams, putting in a £4million bid. Laughable, in my opinion. I understand that in his current position that might be considered a 'going rate' for a centre-half of increasing years, but to the Swans that kind of money is of no benefit at this moment in time. We will be very lucky to find a replacement of the same calibre for even double that, and the money you receive for being in the PL (last place receive around £67million if my memory serves correct) means there's no point selling him.
The more I think about it, the more I believe we won't let Ash move on this summer - even if he won't sign a new contract. If he wants a payday at a big club he can have it next summer - this season he'll still be contracted to the Swans and he'll be expected to help us retain our Premier League status for another year. In fairness, Monk has recently commented that all parties, including Ashley Williams, want to reach agreement over him being at the club next season, so this could just be another storm in a teacup.
Whatever happens, unless we get offered an amount of money which would, give or take, allow us to sign a suitable replacement I think there's no chance Ash will move on this summer.