Eom Ji-sung and Bae Jun-ho Misfire as Swansea and Stoke Stumble to Stalemate in Goalless Draw

06/10/2024 Raymond 0

The first Korean derby of the 2024-25 Championship season saw Eom Ji-sung’s Swansea City and Bae Jun-ho’s Stoke City battle to a goalless draw. Both midfielders started the match but were unable to make a decisive impact before joining the Korean national team for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Despite Swansea’s 19 shots and Stoke’s 10, neither team could break the deadlock. As the Championship pauses for the international break, Eom and Bae head into national duty in solid form, offering manager Hong Myung-bo versatile options in the absence of Son Heung-min.

Transfer Rumours: Swansea City’s Interest in Stoke City Midfielder?

01/07/2024 Raymond 0

Swansea City is reportedly one of three Championship clubs interested in acquiring Stoke City midfielder Josh Laurent. Laurent, who is in the final year of his contract with Stoke, is also drawing attention from clubs abroad. Despite the interest, it seems unlikely that Stoke will want to part ways with Laurent, given his importance to the team. Any potential move would depend on Laurent’s desire to leave, and there has been no indication that he is looking to transfer this summer, especially to another Championship club.

For Swansea, central midfield is an area that needs strengthening, although there are more urgent positions to address. While a midfield pairing of Matt Grimes and Jay Fulton lacks dynamism, and Joe Allen is expected to play a limited role due to fitness concerns, a move for Laurent seems improbable given his value to Stoke and Swansea’s constrained transfer budget. In conclusion, while the rumors of Swansea’s interest in Laurent are intriguing, they appear to be speculative at this stage. Only time will tell if any concrete developments will emerge.