Paul Clement looking to further boost Swansea squad before end of January window

19 January 2017 04:39

Paul Clement admits it would be naive of Swansea to conduct their January transfer business without considering the prospect of relegation from the Premier League.

Clement has already signed three players - defender Martin Olsson, midfielder Tom Carroll and winger Luciano Narsingh - i n little more than a fortnight since being appointed Swansea head coach.

But critics have been quick to suggest that the trio, signed for a combined cost of around £13million, are not the game-changers that rock-bottom Swansea need to avoid dropping into the Championship.

"I would say 90-95 per cent thinking about the players we have brought in is to have an impact now," Clement said ahead of Saturday's daunting trip to third-placed Liverpool.

"But it would be naive from my point of view, and the club's point of view, not to think beyond that, just from an economical point of view.

"They ( Carroll and Olsson) will improve us, but we are looking at other areas for additions.

"It does not look hopeless, we are one point behind the team outside the relegation zone and not far behind the teams just above that as well.

"That can change very quickly.

"I don't have a figure on it (survival). We can look back at historical records and say what it takes to stay up.

"But I am just looking at game-to-game basis - trying to do the best we can in each and every game."

Swansea have been linked with strikers Arouna Kone and Leonardo Ulloa, who are currently out of favour at their respective clubs Everton and Leicester.

Clement is determined to bolster his ranks further, but refused to confirm whether Swansea are interested in the pair.

But he does feel prospective deals might not be concluded until the final day of the window on January 31.

On the same night Swansea are at home to Southampton in what will be a crucial Premier League game, and Clement fears that will present problems.

"It is a difficult period now," said Clement, who added he was determined to keep defender Federico Fernandez and winger Wayne Routledge amid respective interest from West Brom and Birmingham.

"We are not close, but we have targets and we are monitoring that very much on a daily basis.

"There is a lot of other things that can affect whether you can do those deals or not, and it's possible some of those things may run right until the very last days of the window.

"I might have to send out a team to play and I will be in an office on the phone.

"We will be preparing for a very important game here against Southampton that day and we could be also very much be on the phones doing last-minute deals.

"I can't wait for the window to close to be honest.

"Then I know the players I will have going into the last part of the season."

Source: PA