Swansea City vs Morecambe - Swansea boss Francesco Guidolin looks to Italy for new defender

Posted Friday, August 19, 2016 by PA

Swansea's search to replace former captain Ashley Williams has taken them to Serie A.

Boss Francesco Guidolin says the club has drawn up a short-list of "five, six, seven players" and that it includes defenders from his native Italy.

"We still need another centre-half," said Guidolin, who partnered Jordi Amat and Federico Fernandez together in the opening-day 1-0 win at Burnley, but only has former Ajax defender Mike van der Hoorn as central defensive cover.

"I have spoken frequently with the chairman (Huw Jenkins), we have a short-list and we are working on it.

"We have to decide if we need to sign a defender at the level of Amat and Fede who is ready to play, or a younger player.

"This is the decision we have to take.

"There are five, six, seven players on the short-list, there are players I know better as they play in Serie A but for me it is not a problem.

"We need another player and I am optimistic."

Guidolin feels his squad will be complete when a replacement for Williams, who earlier this month ended his eight-year Swansea stay by joining Everton for a reported B£12million fee, is found.

The former Udinese boss says he will then have two players for every position and he has warned Wales' Euro 2016 hero Neil Taylor that he cannot guarantee him a first-team place.

Taylor has made over 160 appearances for Swansea and been an almost ever-present since Ben Davies left for Tottenham two summers ago.

But the rise of Scotland full-back Stephen Kingsley has put the 27-year-old Wales defender's place under threat.

Kingsley impressed at Burnley and will keep his place against Hull on Saturday as Taylor - who shone in France and scored his first international goal in Wales' 3-0 victory over Russia - continues to build up his fitness following his extended post-Euro 2016 break.

"I cannot promise anything. It is not easy, but I want to be honest and clear with the players," said Guidolin.

"I spoke to Neil explaining my idea for him in this period.

"Right now, I would prefer to play with the (outfield) players who have worked with us since the start of pre-season.

"It is different from Gylfi (Sigurdsson) as we do not have another No.10, but we do have another left-back.

"He agreed with me that we should not rush him back, it is better to use players who have 50 days of training behind them rather than players who have had only 20 days after the internationals.

"After the upcoming international break everyone will be at the same level.

"But then we have competition between a young player and an international.

"I respect Neil and his status, but this is the same for all positions in the squad."

Hull midfielder David Meyler wants caretaker manager Mike Phelan to be given the job on a full-time basis as the Tigers continue to search for clarity upon their return to the Premier League.

The East Yorkshire club defied the odds when they began their campaign with a 2-1 home win over Leicester on the opening day, but off-field dramas still hang heavy over any long-term ambitions.

Despite the shot of confidence victory over the champions brought, Hull have gone another week without adding a player to their threadbare squad, while Phelan's future remains unclear.

Meyler has plenty of experience in the top-flight and knows the situation is far from ideal, and believes Phelan is ready-made to steer them through the uncertainty.

"He's been here two-and-a-half years so he knows all the players, even if there are only 12-13 of us fit," he said.

"It's up to the hierarchy to decide, but my personal opinion is it would be good to have him."

Phelan has spent almost all of his coaching career as an assistant, most significantly as a trusted ally to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, without being given a full-time managerial role.

The 53-year-old has publicly declared he is ready for a full-time role and Meyler is certain Phelan is ready for such an opportunity after his thorough planning helped mastermind victory against Leicester.

"He deserves a lot of credit," he said. "He set us up in a good manner to deal with everything. We tried to crowd them out in midfield and stop them playing and stop them turning us towards our own goal.

"His work all week helped us do that.

"When you're Sir Alex's assistant for long enough I presume you go through everything and he's not taking any short-cuts now."

Phelan was able to provide some hope on the transfer front after revealing that offers had been made for players this week.

The club have been linked with forwards Moussa Konate and Nemanja Nikolic, while there is also reported interest in a loan move for Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez.

"At the moment we've bid for two or three players," Phelan said. "Those bids are out there it's up to those clubs now whether they accept. We're playing a waiting game."

Phelan had just 13 fit players against Leicester, and while Harry Maguire returned to training this week he may not be risked.

The caretaker boss added: "He's been introduced back into the squad but whether he'll be available tomorrow is maybe a push. "Next week onwards he should be okay."