Rodgers vows to keep best players

05 January 2012 16:46

Manager Brendan Rodgers has warned Swansea's Barclays Premier League rivals that he has no intention of letting any of his top players leave the Liberty Stadium this month.

The south Wales' club's impressive start to life in the Premier League has attracted plenty of admirers, as well as the attentions of top-flight managers. Centre-half Ashley Williams and left-back Neil Taylor have been the latest Swansea players linked with moves elsewhere, to Newcastle and Arsenal respectively.

Rodgers said: "I'm sure there will be a raft of players linked to clubs in the coming weeks, but we want to keep our best players. The spirit is unique at this football club and the players can see the progress they are making here as individuals. There is a lot of speculation and in a way it's great because it shows the players are doing well."

He added: "But they also understand that it comes on the back of performing well.

"It's nice for them to be recognised but they know they are at a great club that is moving forward and they understand that speculation is part of this business. We don't take too much notice of it."

The Northern Irishman is instead focused on strengthening his squad and is waiting for the formalities of the signing of Cliftonville's Rory Donnelly and the loan move for Hoffenheim midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson to be completed.

The Swans are also close to finally capturing France Under-19 defender Darnel Situ.

Situ signed for Swansea at the end of the summer transfer window but was denied international clearance by FIFA, but the move is understood to now be close to being finalised.

And Rodgers, who has been linked with a loan move for Chelsea' Josh McEachran and also dismissed reports that NEC Nijmegen midfielder John Goossens had turned down a move to the club, is hopeful of making at least one further addition to his midfield ranks before the end of the month.

"There will not be many signings but I want one more to bring in," he said. "I like to have plenty of midfielders, especially intelligent ones that can offer different solutions for different games."

Source: PA