24 May 2013 12:10

Itay Shecter scores his first goal for the Swans

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Arsene Wenger has prioritised a move for the 28-year-old as the Gunners look to tie up the deal that will cost the club between £8 million and £10m

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | Chief correspondent

Ashley Williams has agreed terms to join Arsenal from Swansea City this summer, Goal can reveal.

Arsene Wenger has prioritised signing the central defender and is hopeful that an offer between £8 million and £10m can close the deal after reaching a basic agreement with the player.

It is understood that Arsenal have agreed a three-year contract with Williams’ camp that is worth £60,000-a-week.

Preliminary negotiations have taken place between Arsenal and Swansea on a fee for the Wales captain, with the Londoners confident of completing the signing in the next two weeks.

As revealed by Goal, Arsenal stepped up their interest in Williams in April and moved in to pole position to capture him ahead of Liverpool after holding two rounds of talks with the player’s representatives.           

The 28-year-old’s desire to move to an elite club had not been dependent upon the guarantee of Champions League football, which Arsene Wenger’s team secured on the final day of the season.

The Gunners are poised to start the bidding at around the £8m mark and, although Swansea are likely to hold out for a fee closer to £12m, it is not expected that the final cost will be much beyond £10m.

Wenger is a big admirer of Williams, who he believes has the calibre and battle-hardened Premier League experience to beef up a defence that had been found wanting at times last season.

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ASHLEY Williams believes Swansea City will need to invest heavily in the summer if they are to compete in Europe as well as the Premier League.

Swansea ended their season on a disappointing note yesterday, losing 3-0 at home to Fulham.

It was a frustrating finish to a remarkable campaign which had seen Swansea claim their first ever major trophy in the form of the Capital One Cup, as well as a top-half Premier League finish.

Their cup triumph at Wembley means Michael Laudrup’s men will be playing European football next season but, after just one win in their last ten matches, Williams reckons the club must strengthen their squad if they are to make an impact in the Europa League.

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“We’ll come back for pre-season ready and set ourselves new goals and new targets, but at the moment we just want a break,” he said.

“We always need new players, especially getting into Europe we’ll need a squad with more quality.

“I think the gaffer’s got enough experience of Europe and European competitions, way more than me so I’m sure we’ll be safe in his hands.”

Swansea’s place in the Europa League will make them a more attractive proposition for potential new signings, but Williams insists the Premier League will be their priority.

“The league is more important than the Europa League,” he said.

“The way I see it is that it’s an experience and something we want to do well in, it’s a bit of a bonus.

“But the league is what we want to do well in.

“That’s our bread and butter.”

LONDON (SE) – Fulham ended a five-match losing streak when they won 3-0 at Swansea on the final day of the season.

It is safe to say that not many expected this full time result, and certainly Swansea fans will not have anticipated such a tame end to the season.

The visitors started much the brighter of the two sides, and took the lead midway through the first half thanks to a wonderful finish from Alex Kacaniklic. From then on, it was mostly the Swans who dictated the play, especially in the second half, but they couldn’t take any of the chances that came their way.

With just over ten minutes remaining Dimitar Berbatov calmly slotted home the killer second goal after taking the ball around Michel Vorm, before Urby Emauelson’s tap-in secured all three points for the Cottagers.

At the final whistle, the morale-boosting victory for Martin Jol’s side meant that Swansea finished ninth and Fulham 12th in the Barclays Premier League table.

The towel was found while a member of staff looked for bedding for kittens

Swansea City fans and historians are being asked if a towel donated for kitten bedding to an RSPCA shelter has any historical significance.

The old Swansea Town FC towel was found in a pile of linen at the Llys Nini Animal Centre in Swansea.

As the Premier League club changed its name to Swansea City in 1969, the towel would be at least 44 years old.

Staff want to know if the towels were only used by players or more commonly available.

The RSPCA animal centre would like to know the historical significance of the towel

Sally Hyman, chair of Llys Nini, said she found the towel while looking for bedding for some kittens.

“Although not a new towel, it is in very good condition,” she said.

“I was just about to use it to make a bed for a litter of small kittens, when I noticed what it said on it.

“We would like to know how common these things are – were they sold to supporters or, as we suspect, provided to the players or perhaps used in the executives’ bathroom at the Vetch [football ground] and therefore more special.

“We would like to know if the towel is of historic value to the club.”

Brothers and Welsh internationals Ivor and Len Allchurch were among the stars who lined up for Swansea Town in the 1960s when the club’s main highlight was reaching the FA Cup semi-final in 1964.

MICHAEL Laudrup’s agent has moved to make it clear once and for all that the Swansea City manager will not leave the club this summer.

Laudrup has been linked with a string of teams after his spectacular debut season as Swansea boss.

Real Madrid, Monaco, Paris St Germain, Everton and Manchester City are among the stellar names who have been mentioned as potential suitors for the Dane.

But his representative, Bayram Tutumlu, insists Laudrup is not interested in quitting Swansea after only one season at the helm because he is not motivated by money.

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Tutumlu has revealed that he has been contacted by more than one club about Laudrup’s situation – but says there is no chance of his client moving on because he is enjoying life in Wales.

“Everybody is calling me about Michael – it’s normal because he has done well and he is a legend – but he is happy at Swansea City,” Tutumlu told the Evening Post.

“We have a good relationship with the chairman, we have no problems, and we are looking to bring good players to Swansea next season.

“I know one thing that Michael tells me – he is happy at Swansea and for us, money is second.

“Money is for living good – to have a good house, good car, good watch and good clothes.

“But money is not our God. Money for Michael is in second place.

“He is happy if the club respect him, if the chairman respects him, and he has got that at Swansea.

“The club respect him, the chairman respects him, the people love him and the players love him, so why should he change?”

Laudrup signed a two-year deal when he took the Swansea job last summer, and agreed a 12-month contract extension this spring which ties him to the Liberty until the summer of 2015.

The 48-year-old has indicated that he will not be in management for the rest of his working life, but Tutumlu insists there is plenty of time for Laudrup to take another job if he wishes in the future.

“Why should he change after one year?” Tutumlu stressed.

“There is no rush. Michael is young and we have time – he could have 12 or 15 years more as a manager. He is not jumping for jobs because he wants to stay at Swansea.

“He tells everyone that he will stay at Swansea, maybe for one more year or two more years, you can never be sure.

“But he is going to stay at Swansea and we are doing our best to make a strong team for next season.

“He is happy and he is working hard, because we want to improve next season.

“Swansea have won the Capital One Cup and they can finish maybe eighth in the Premier League. People will not be happy if, after that, Swansea only stay in the Premier League next season.”

Tutumlu’s declaration will come as a huge boost to Swansea’s fans after what has been the most successful campaign in the club’s history.

Swansea lost Brendan Rodgers when Liverpool came calling last summer. They have also seen Roberto Martinez and Paulo Sousa move on in recent years, and chairman Huw Jenkins is desperate for Laudrup to stick around.

LONDON (SE) – Fulham will be looking to end a miserable run of five straight Premier League defeats as they travel to play Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.

The Cottagers (10-10-17) are 15th in the standings but have taken just one point from eight league outings. That disappointing streak meant that until Wigan’s 3-1 defeat at Arsenal on Tuesday, Fulham would have faced the drop themselves if results went against them on the final day of the season.

Fulham defender John Arne Riise says he expects a tough match in Swansea but wants his teammates to end the season on a high.

“We’re on a bad run of form and we want to end that so we go into the summer in a good frame of mind,” Riise told this club’s official website. “Hopefully we’ll have a good week in training, get our energy back and finish on a good note. We’re not thinking about our holidays yet – now is not the time, we’ve still got a game of football to play.”

Swansea (11-13-13) are ninth in the table on 46 points. Michael Laudrup’s side are guaranteed a top-10 finish and could finish as high as eighth.

“To finish in the top ten of the Premier League is a great achievement,” Swansea midfielder Leon Britton told this club’s official website. “It’s going to be tough against Fulham, but if we win and results go our way then we can finish eighth. The last game of the season is not going to be an easy day for us – we have a lot to play for.

“If we don’t finish eighth then it will still have been a great season, but hopefully we can give the fans something to cheer about on the last game of the season because they have been fantastic once again. Home and away, they turn up in numbers and they deserve a performance from us.”

The Swans have taken just six points from their last nine games. The Welsh side have played back-to-back scoreless draws at the Liberty Stadium, with no goals scored there in 199 minutes since Michu netted with 19 minutes left in a 2-1 loss to Tottenham on Mar. 30.

Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm is doubtful with a head injury.

Fulham’s Steve Sidwell is suspended, while fellow midfielders Simon Davies (hip), Ashkan Dejagah (ankle) and Mahamadou Diarra (knee) are all out injured.

Swansea won 2-1 at Craven Cottage in late December. Danny Graham scored after 19 minutes and Jonathan De Guzman netted early in the second half. Bryan Ruiz pulled one back four minutes later, but Fulham couldn’t find the equaliser in the final 34 minutes.

The Swans have won all three Premier League meetings between the sides in the last two seasons, outscoring the Cottagers 7-1. Swansea hold the all-time edge over Fulham with 16 wins and seven draws in 30 matches.

A win for Fulham would give them their fourth away victory of the season, matching their total from last year as the most away wins since the 2003-2004 season.

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup is expected to stick with the side that were defeated at Manchester United last week for Sunday’s season finale at the Liberty Stadium.

Other than goalkeeper Michel Vorm, who is recovering from a head injury suffered in the victory at Wigan 12 days ago and Ki Sung-Yeung (hamstring), the Swans head into the game with a clean bill of health.

Steve Sidwell remains unavailable to Fulham as he completes the final game of a four-match ban following his red card against Arsenal in April. Midfield trio Mahamadou Diarra (knee), Ashkan Dejagah (ankle) and Simon Davies (hip) are long-term absentees and will not feature until next season.

Cottagers chief Martin Jol could hand Urby Emanuelson a start in what will be his final game before returning to AC Milan at the conclusion of his loan spell at Craven Cottage.

• Swansea are one only two teams, along with Tottenham, not to be awarded a penalty in the Premier League this season.

• Top scorer Michu (pictured right) accounts for 38% of his sides goals this season, which is only bettered by Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke (51%).

• Without the Spaniard’s goals Michael Laudrup’s side would be 17th in the table with 35 points and a -19 goal difference.

• Fulham have lost their last five league games in succession. They’ve never suffered six straight defeats in the top-flight since a winless run that stretched between February and March 2002.

• Dimitar Berbatov has scored 11 of his 14 goals this term in the first half of games.

• The Cottagers have recovered just five points from losing positions – the lowest in the top-flight - and have never come from behind to win match this season. They are 40/1 with bet365 to win the game after trailing at half-time.

• Swans winger Wayne Routledge spent the 2006-07 season on loan at Craven Cottage making 28 appearances and scoring once in all competitions for club.

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