In a week where Fernando Llorente looks set to join Swansea that news will have been tempered by the fact that their Ghanian winger Andre Ayew is set to depart for West Ham for a fee believed to be £20m. After already losing three forwards this Summer the departure of Ayew will come as a great concern to Swansea fans.
For Swansea it represents good business as they picked up him on a free transfer last Summer but it’s no good having a healthy balance sheet if it’s to the detriment to the side. No disrespect to Swansea but they haven’t been blessed with too many star players over the past couple of seasons and to see another one leave will be another hammer blow in the clubs preparations for the upcoming campaign.
For Ayew the bright lights of London are calling and he will now call the brand new Olympic Stadium home, while for West Ham it will bring a new addition to the forward ranks. It also gives them another option in attack as with Diafra Sahko no longer featuring in Slaven Bilic’s plans they did look a bit light in terms of attacking personnel.
It was an impressive debut Premier League season for Ayew last time around as he chipped in with 12 goals in 34 Premier League appearances. If he can match that form for West Ham this season then that £20m will be money very well spent.
After their top 6 finish last season, The Hammers will look to build on that and Ayew will be charged with not only scoring goals but making them as well. Questions may be asked as to how both him and Dimitri Payet will fit into West Ham side but if they can find a system that works then it will have Hammers fans purring with delight at their new home.
Swansea will now be under enormous pressure to sign new players if not before the start of the season then certainly before the end of the transfer window. The problem they may face is that if so many players are departing then they don’t become so much of an attractive proposition to potential new players.
The lack of transfer deals and a failure to improve on the squad has many tipping Swansea for relegation this season, if they fail to hold on to Ashley Williams who is now the focus of Everton’s attention then they will really struggle.
The fact that they have also just got £20m in the bank but will be desperate to spend it will also in turn make it more expensive to buy players as selling clubs will know that they hold all the aces. Sometimes when desperation kicks in then transfer business doesn’t seem to be as wise, it’s almost a case of just get anyone through the door. Therefore not only has Francesco Guidolin got to spend this money quickly he has to spend it wisely.