Swansea City have reached a pre-contract agreement with Real Betis regarding the summer transfer of defensive midfielder Jose Canas amid reports manager Michael Laudrup has fallen out with club chairman Huw Jenkins over transfer budgets, Sky Sports understands.
Canas, 26, helped Betis secure a UEFA Europa League play-off berth after achieving a seventh-place finish in La Liga last season.
The Swans are looking to build on arguably their greatest ever season, having finished in the top half of the English Premier League table and won the Capital One Cup, and the signing of Canas is certainly a step in the right direction.
The 26-year-old midfielder, who made 29 appearances across all competitions for Real Betis last season, will join the Swans via free transfer on 1 July.
Despite contrary reports, Swansea have ‘substantial funds’ available to spend this summer.
“Myself, the manager and our recruitment staff are all agreed on the quality of players we would like to sign to help us remain competitive in the Barclays Premier League,” Jenkins told the club’s official website.
“We are continuing to work behind the scenes, in private wherever and whenever we can, to strengthen our squad.
“For that reason it’s disappointing that I have to respond to the speculation of unrest at the club after the fantastic season we have had.
“There are substantial funds available to strengthen our squad over the summer while we are also in the privileged position, because of the way we’ve managed our finances over the years, that we do not need to sell anyone to fund those new recruits.”
Meanwhile, Swansea are set to lose out to Liverpool in the race for Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas, with the 25-year-old on the verge of completing a £7.7 million move to Anfield, ESPN reports.
Aspas, who scored 12 goals in 34 league matches last season, emerged as a transfer target of the Swans during the January transfer window.
Chadli eyes BPL move
The agent of FC Twente winger Nacer Chadli, Daniel Evard, has revealed the Belgium international wants to play in the Barclays Premier League next season, according to Sky Sports.
Chadli, 23, is reportedly attracting interest from a number of European clubs, including Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, after enjoying a terrific season at Twente.
The Belgium international, who joined Twente from AGOVV Apeldoorn in the summer of 2010, bagged 15 goals and six assists in 33 competitive appearances for the Reds last season.
“Nacer is keen to play in the Champions League but is also attracted by English football. From that side we still expect something,” Evard told De Telegraaf.
“But first he has to focus on the important match for the Belgian national team. In Brussels there will once again be much interest from clubs.
“Nacer is in a fantastic position. With an eye on his current deal, I expect that clubs won’t wait long and that a decision will be made this month.”
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