Alexandru Maxim (for 55282)

Agreed with you on lots of players in the past but I'm going to stick my neck on the block here and say that I disagree with you on this one and believe that Olsson is worth a punt.
My reasoning?
- Yes he has been relegated on 2 occasions but he has picked up a lot of Prem experience in that time
- At 26 he's just coming to his peak age as a full-back
- He has pace
- Left footed
- Can play left wing
- Has a good injury record
- Is possibly Home Grown (Would need that confirmed by a Norwich fan, but he did join Blackburn's academy when he was 18)

The perfect solution at left-back for me would be;
1) Sell Taylor for £5-7m
2) Bring in a new no.1 left-back
3) Bring in Olsson and have him compete at left-back and left-wing (would be an upgrade on Tiendalli...his transfer fee should be covered by Taylor) .

I accept that it would be risky to sell Taylor in January and bring in Olsson, however I'd be prepared to take this particular risk.

 

Jordie Clasie would be great...am intrigued by Castaignos also.
Only reservations would come from the home-grown status rule.
I think we've got about 10 HG players at the mo, 8 is the minimum....every time you replace a HG player with a foreigner you get closer to that minimum which makes me uncomfortable as our flexibility on future transfer business is reduced.
I reckon the policy should be; when a HG player is sold (or you are planning to phase him out) the first market you look to is the HG market. If a suitable replacement cannot be found and you have to dip into the European/Foreign markets fair enough but you then need to plan for replacing a foreigner for a HG player in the next transfer window or 2.

Ideally I would like us to maintain 10 HG senior players.

So I'd sign Clasie if we could get him but would then look for a young HG player as the back-up striker (rather than Castaignos) to maintain the balance.

 

The Daily Mail

Swansea have bid rejected for Stuttgart midfielder Alexandru Maxim as they step up pursuit of Norwich defender Martin Olsson

• Swansea bid of £5.5million knocked back by German side
• Martin Olsson wants to leave Norwich and return to the Premier League
• Gary Monk wants Olsson should he lose left back Neil Taylor

By Simon Jones for the Daily Mail
Published: 21:15, 19 January 2015 | Updated: 21:15, 19 January 2015


Swansea have had an offer of £5.5million rejected for Stuttgart midfielder Alexandru Maxim.
The 24-year-old has steadily progressed for the Bundesliga side after moving to Germany two years ago.
Garry Monk’s side have also lodged a £4m bid with Norwich for Martin Olsson, who has asked to leave the Canaries this month.
Olsson, 26, joined Norwich in the Premier League back in 2013 and wants a return to the top flight.
Monk wants Olsson to act as defensive reinforcement given he could lose full back Neil Taylor before February.
Swansea are awaiting an improved offer for the Wales international from Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace.

 

What I will say Terror is that he is very good going forward but he is similar to Glen Johnson (not as good) and defensively he is very poor. If he comes would be a risk but would back him. Would prefer someone who can defend first and as a bonus is good going forward. Maybe someone like Spurs Ben Davies could do a job for us.