Will Michael Laudrup be Swansea boss next season?

Speculation has grown over the future of Swansea boss Michael Laudrup this summer

This summer speculation over Michael Laudrup’s future at Swansea has nearly taken the shine off their bright season.

Club officials have severed ties with the Danes agent Bayram Tutumlu after he reportedly told the Welsh club that they were not giving Laudrup enough funds to strengthen his squad.

Successful

Michael Laudrup enjoyed a hugely successful season with Swansea, winning the Capital One Cup and finishing ninth in the Premier League table, two places higher than the previous season under the highly-rated Brendan Rodgers.

Swansea’s brand of football under Rodgers won many plaudits, but the team play an even more expansive style of football under the Dane. Laudrup built on Rodgers foundation of a good team and improved it.

Signings

The team was improved immensely by the players that Laudrup brought in last summer. The Dane used his expert knowledge of the Spanish game to strengthen the heart of the team with the signings of Chico Flores, Jonathan de Guzman and Michu.

All three proved to be inspired signings and showed that you do not need to spend big money on players capable of making an impact on the Premier League.

Michu was obviously the biggest success story at Swansea last season. The Spanish attacking midfielder/ striker scored 22 goals in all competitions and cost a measly £2million from Rayo Vallecano last summer.

Swansea will be doing everything they can to secure a permanent deal for De Guzman. The Canadian-born Dutch international spent the season on-loan at the Liberty Stadium from Spanish club Villarreal.

The Yellow Submarine will be back in La Liga next season after securing promotion from the second tier of Spanish football. His parent club may want De Guzman to aide their La Liga campaign. De Guzman’s performances in the Premier League have also raised his profile within the European game.

Swansea may now find it difficult to keep hold of the midfielder, with a host of European clubs including the likes of Fiorentina reportedly interested in signing the former-Feyenoord ace.

Progress

Laudrup has proved that he does not need much spending power to improve the Swansea team. However, it seems the Dane is at loggerheads with the Swansea board over whom he can bring in this summer.

The former-Mallorca boss has already stated he has given a list of players names to the Swansea board that he wants to bring in this summer. According to the Dane, all apart from one are within Swansea’s budget.

Problems

Laudrup’s agent Bayram Tutumlu has played a part in bringing a number of the players of the current squad to South Wales, but he has now fallen out with Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins. The club have stated they will no longer work with Tutumlu.

It seems that the agent plays a big part in the recruiting policy of the Swans and he has overstepped his mark with the Swansea hierarchy. Tutumlu has accused chairman Huw Jenkins of wanting to sign cheap players.

The agent should not really be talking about the clubs chairman. He should be looking after the needs of his client, not arguing over transfer budgets with club chairman, which according to reports he has tried in recent weeks.

It really is hard to figure out why Tutumlu is negotiating transfer budgets with Swansea in the first place. Michael Laudrup should be the one talking to Jenkins and co. to decide what he has to spend, not his agent, who should not even be involved in club matters.

This situation just goes to show how much power agents have within the game in modern football. He should stick to looking after his client’s contract negotiations. He is not the clubs manager.

Staying?

According to all parties, Michael Laudrup is staying at the Liberty Stadium this summer. However, the Dane has a reputation for not staying at clubs very long. French giants PSG are reportedly looking at the Dane, as a potential replacement for Carlo Ancelotti, should the Italian leave for Real Madrid.

Laudrup would have truckloads of money to spend in the French capital. However, Laudrup’s football philosophy and Swansea go hand in hand and I believe he should stay at Swansea for this season at least.

If he does not then it will be a shame, but he will have left the Swans with a piece of history, their first ever piece of English silverware. He will also have left Swansea with a strong squad to build upon in the future for his successor.

Will Michael Laudrup be Swansea boss next season?