With European football looming, Swansea could prove an ideal destination for young players at top European clubs.
This week, rumours of young Barcelona right-back Martin Montaya joining the Swans on loan next season got me thinking - with Europa League football on offer, plus an attractive attacking playing style, SA1 has suddenly become an ideal destination for any youngsters plying their trades at star-laden Champions League level clubs. You see it every year; young players at illustrious clubs get loaned out to whichever club gets lucky, with possibly the best example this season being Romelu Lukaku's exploits at West Brom. On loan from Chelsea, it's a wonder he hasn't been recalled from his loan given how much he's impressed during his time at the Hawthorns, and he's shown the benefit regular football can have for a footballer.
Without further ado, here are some youngsters who may be struggling for game-time next season, and who it may be worth making a cheeky bid for:
Name: Martin Montoya Team: Barcelona Position: Right-back Age: 21
Montoya has been linked with the Swans, as well as Liverpool, this week. Another product of the La Masia youth system, he's been progressing through the system until recently when he burst onto the scene. An impressive performance in the Copa del Rey final brought him into the fold and when Dani Alves succumbed to injury Montoya made the right-back position his own. He played nine games in a row at one point however once Dani Alves was fit it only took a few weeks before Montoya found himself on the sidelines once again. What's more, the impressive performances of Barca's other Brazilian right-back Adriano have left Montoya further out in the cold. For a player who seemed to be having his "breakthrough season", it hasn't worked out quite as he'd have hoped, so he may well be open to a move in a bid to gain experience, fitness, and establish himself in his own right.
Montoya has been described by Barca coaches as a "total footballer" and one who has perfect technique, and it's accepted he seems to enjoy attacking more than he does defending, but it sounds like he'd be a perfect fit given how Laudrup likes his full-backs to get forward. Not since Martinez have we seen Rangel play with such freedom, and it says something when his was probably the best one-on-one opportunity the Swans had last time out against arsenal. That being said, a nippy younger version of Angel, with Barca pedigree, wouldn't go amiss in South Wales and I'd imagine the Swans are sniffing around.
Name: Hasan Pepic Team: Juventus Position: Left Wing Age: 20
Tricky winger Pepic started out at Stuttgart, but transferred to Dynamo Dresden before attracting the attention of more illustrious suitors. It was announced early last month that Pepic had agreed a free transfer with Juventus (I can't find info on it but I'd assume his contract was running down?) but it seemed accepted that Pepic would spend time in Juventus' "Primavera" (development) side before challenging for a first-team berth. With Pepic seemingly on the fringes of the Juve squad, it could be worth getting a report to see if he could add some pace and trickery to the Swansea forward line.
Name: Alberto Masi Team: Juventus Position: Centre-Back Age: 20
Starting out at Sampdoria, young Alberto Masi failed to make the grade and was allowed to join Pro Vercelli in a co-ownership deal (as was another Sampdoria youngster Tomasso Cancelloti). The players were allowed to leave for 500E token fees in a bid to develop their games, and it worked out well as Masi proved to be one of the catalysts which saw Pro Vercelli promoted from the third tier as playoff winners.
As the season drew to an end both clubs failed to agree to a price, so in an amazingly Italian way of solving things both clubs had to write down how much they were willing to pay for Masi, before placing it in a sealed envelope which is then handed to the league. As it turned out, Pro Vercelli offered more so they got the player, and they wasted no time in deciding to immediately sell him, in another co-ownership deal - this time with Juventus (in July 2012, however Juventus saw enough in the player to buy out the remaining half of his ownership a month later).
Skysports Juventus expert Romeo Agresti had this to say about the imposing young centre-back:
"The most appropriate comparison is most certainly with Alessandro Nesta. That is because he always plays with his head up, has very intelligent movement, and literally never gives the ball away.
"He has excellent physicality and is very quick. He is skilled in the air, has superb positional sense and is very good with the ball at either foot."
Sounds pretty good! He's currently on loan at Serie B Ternana, and a quick look at the table tells me they're both stingy in defence but also remarkably goal-shy. In tenth place, they've scored the second lowest amount of goals in the league, but in their defence (pun intended) they've also got the third best defence. Reminds me of John Hollins, for some reason...
A move to Swansea would be another step up the ladder for Masi in terms of the level of football he'd be experiencing. With Monk surely figuring less next season, It'd leave Bartley & Ash as the Swans only viable centre-back options so an extra option would definitely be welcomed with open arms. Whether Juve plan to utilise him more next season is another matter, but it's unlikely he'll fancy another season in the second tier of any league, so any loan approach made would be weighed carefully on it's merits (assuming Juventus are open to the idea).
Some will say it's fanciful to be linking players of this stature to the Swans, but European football really does give a club extra purchasing power. With big clubs continuing to snap up talented youngsters, there are always players who coaches think would benefit from regular playing time; and if the prospective club can offer European football that could well swing the deal. Given the limited size of the Swansea squad (in terms of quality replacements) any players brought in from now on must be able to slot straight in, as squad rotation will be necessary next season given the amount of extra games the Swans will face.
Exactly who will arrive in SA1 remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure; Laudrup has an extensive contact list and as soon as the Swans reputation matches that of its manager there could be some very interesting developments indeed.