Swansea to launch bid for Mariappa

Swansea City are set to challenge Newcastle in the battle to sign Watford defender Adrian Mariappa with a bid worth 3.5 million pounds.

Brendan Rodgers wants the 25-year-old to bolster his defence after accepting he will not be able to turn Steven Caulker’s loan move from Tottenham into a permanent deal.

There are also concerns Tottenham could recall the central defender to the club before the end of the month, with the likes of William Gallas sidelined through injury at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham have already ordered Swansea to leave Caulker out of their squad for Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round clash against Bolton to avoid him becoming cup-tied.

Mariappa, however, will line up for Watford – against Tottenham – in the FA Cup on Friday, but that could be his last fixture for the Vicarage Road side.

The centre-back was the subject of a failed bid from Newcastle earlier this week worth an initial 750,000 pounds rising to three million pounds.

Watford are understood to want four million pounds for Mariappa but could be tempted to cash in on a straight cash bid from Swansea.

“A bid from Swansea is imminent, they have been showing a strong interest and we could have a bidding war on our hands,” a source told Goal.com

“Mariappa has made it known that he would like to move to a Premier League club but he’s not the kind of player who would kick up a fuss.”

Watford manager Sean Dyche insisted on Wednesday the Championship club will not sell Mariappa unless a club meets their valuation.

“Unfortunately, as is often the case these days, their offer is nowhere near our valuation,” Dyche said of Newcastle’s offer.

“That’s the awkward side of the game now, and they do it for their own reasons. I couldn’t begin to tell you how far away it was – my son’s got more in his money box.”