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.
Laurent is set to begin pre-season training with Stoke today and is anticipated to be a key player for manager Steven Schumacher, following their narrow escape from relegation last season. Schumacher praised Laurent’s contributions after a crucial win against Southampton, highlighting his defensive efforts and leadership on the field. Laurent has had a diverse career, with stints at nine different clubs including Newport, Brentford, QPR, and Reading, before joining Stoke in 2022 on a two-year deal. He has since made 69 league appearances and scored five goals, becoming the team captain and a fan favorite.
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Interest in Laurent is not limited to the UK, with clubs from Cyprus and Turkey, such as Paphos and Gaziantep, expressing interest. Domestically, besides Swansea, both Blackburn and West Brom are also monitoring the situation, potentially looking to secure Laurent’s services before he becomes a free agent next summer.
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.
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