15:56 6th June 2013 . . . while chairman says substantial transfer funds available Swansea City have today finalised personal terms with Real Betis midfielder Jose Canas. The Spaniard has signed a pre-contract with the club which will be ratified once the transfer window opens on July 1. The 26-year-old, whose contract is due to expire at Betis at the end of the month, has played a key role in their La Liga campaign, helping them book a Europa League Play-Off spot after a seventh-placed finish. But Canas will now be involved in Europa League competition with the Swans instead following their success in the Capital One Cup last February, with Michael Laudrup’s side entering at the third qualifying stage. Canas, who shares the same agent as Swans defender Chico Flores, will also join fellow Spaniards Angel Rangel, Pablo Hernandez and Michu in the squad at the Liberty. A product of the Betis youth system, Cadiz-born Canas rose through the ranks at the club and made his first-team debut in 2009. He helped the club win promotion back to the top-flight in 2011 and made 27 appearances last season. The signing will come as a welcome boost for Swans fans after numerous stories in the media suggesting a disagreement in the camp with manager Michael Laudrup over the level of transfer funds. But Swans chairman, Huw Jenkins, said: “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. “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. “It goes without saying that some of our targets will sign for other clubs for different reasons. But that’s the same for every club. The important thing, and a factor that has always been vitally important for us, is that we sign players who want to play for Swansea City for footballing reasons. If not, then we move on to the next target. “I think most people will agree that it is a policy that has served this football club, and more importantly our fans, well over the last decade. “It is true that I have not sat down with our manager since the last game of the season against Fulham, but that’s because we have both been away on holidays at different times. It doesn’t mean we haven’t spoken because I’ve had numerous conversations with Michael over the phone and there's been no difference of opinion on our original transfer targets. “We have built up a strong reputation over the last few years at Swansea and I believe we have gone about our business in the right way. We have to remain strong for the sake of our supporters and make sure this proud reputation is protected at all costs. “A lot of hard work has been done to try and maintain and improve on the incredible journey we have had over the last 10 years. That work will continue.’’ www.swanseacity.net/‎
Great news, lets hope that huw doesnt speak with forked tongue. Much more confident that ML will be with us at the start of the season plus some new signings.
We should all relax. We have been presented as having the template for how a club should be run. We play the most attractive football in prem We have an A list superstar manager We are now a massive target for the press whos credo is to "build them up to f*ck them up" Good news gells, bad news sells
Relieved is an understatement. I take two things from this: 1) this may be a sweet statement to cover internal strife - if so, then so be it, I would do the same; 2) if there is no unrest in the club as stated, then there really needs to be a recalibration of people within the club that may have spoken out of turn, and a complete re-positioning of the club's relationship with local media if not the national media. Poison is poison and it needs to be stopped.
What was everyone worried about, we have our first quote on the matter, rather than old news reshuffled to suit the doom and gloom articles
Be interesting to see if Norway can shed any further information regarding the information he received as he said the Canas deal would be an indicator to how things would pan out. Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel for us.
**** me. Just put my first contribution up for ages on NJ's thread. This kinda backs up what I said there. Guess we'll have to wait and see.
Thing is Yankee there is no such thing as 'local news' anymore. The Evening Post's Mother paper, the Daily Mail, predicts its story lines and stance on story's considered to be of national interest. Football is considered of national interest and so they print what they're told. A rule of thumb is to take any story that cites and un named source with a huge pinch of salt.
It's official lads and they go on to rubbish some of the rumours that have been flying around too http://mobile.swanseacity.net/news/article/canas-pre-contract-857248.aspx?pd=635061310140000000
I really do hope that will put an end to some of the stuff going round the forums at the moment, all this has stemmed from articles with no quotes whatsoever, just hearsay, and sauces. We finally have an article with a quite from HJ, which should mean the other factors should be quickly forgotten, after all, no quotes, no facts, no nothing
Stumpy's OP from the club website: http://www.swanseacity.net/news/article/canas-pre-contract-857248.aspx
I thought it was Guardian ? Actually its neither now http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/N...dia-business/story-17381017-detail/story.html
Good news indeed but why didn't the club issue this statement sooner? News of unrest and disagreement have been all over the media - newspapers, radio, tv and the internet - so the club will have been aware of it. It would have taken less than a minute out of Jenkins' holiday to respond to all the speculation and put the supporter's minds at rest. Mind you, before I go dancing and whooping up the street, I want to hear the same thing from Laudrup's camp.
