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Mathew Davies

Swansea City transfer news as Crystal Palace starlet on radar, Pato back in fold and remarkable turnaround sees new deal on cards

These are your Swansea City headlines on Sunday, February 26.

Swans interested in Palace man

Reports from The Sun state that Swansea and Bristol City are keeping an eye on Crystal Palace midfielder Killian Phillips.

The 20-year-old is currently on loan with Shrewsbury Town in League One and has been getting attention for his displays.

He only arrived at the club at the start of January but he's already made an impression, with Swansea and the Robins keeping tabs on his progress away from Selhurst Park.

READ MORE: 'It's not a good look' — Swansea City legend hits nail on the head over club's current problem

Head coach Russell Martin says he expects a "huge summer" in SA1 in terms of recruitment work, with Swansea failing to bring in any additions in the January transfer window. With loan man Luke Cundle heading back to Wolves, the Swans will need strengthening in the middle of the park.

Phillips has yet to make his bow for the Eagles but his comments from his loan stint with the Shrews suggests he's just happy to be getting minutes under his belt and learning from boss Steve Cotterill.

“I just love playing football,” he said to the local Shropshire media recently.

“I have grown up in a council estate in Kilbarrack back home in Dublin and that is all we could do - play football or get in trouble, and I managed to play football. I am just living my dream, I am only a kid, and I am living my dream.

“It is just a game of ball at the end of the day, you get to play in front of 8,500-odd people in front of the fans and the stadium is rocking, it is just what I wanted to do as a kid so I am going to cherish every moment and give a 100 per cent in every moment no matter what it is.

“It doesn’t get any better than a win and we have managed to get six wins in a row! We just need to keep doing that. It’s now onto Exeter.

“Honest to god, I don’t think I could have come to a better club than Shrewsbury. The dressing room and the staff all really look out for me – not just on the pitch but off it as well, little gestures the lads have given me.

“And the gaffer, I have learnt a lot off him already so it’s almost the perfect loan so far so I’m delighted to be here.”

Pato back in the fold

Jamie Paterson has been pictured back in first-team training ahead of the clash against Rotherham United on Monday night.

Paterson had been doing individual training work and doing sessions with the club's under-21s after failing to seal a move away from the club in the January transfer window.

Hometown club Coventry City were rumoured to be interested in him but nothing ever came of it.

Martin said of Paterson after the window closed: "We haven’t had a real deep chat about it yet. The situation is the same. There might be an opportunity that arises for him at some point. In the short term, I don’t see it changing.

"The players we’ve got in the squad, the people that give us absolutely everything, that’s where it’s at. It’s down to Pato."

The door appeared to be closed on Paterson at Swansea but that may have now changed.

All eyes on the team sheet tomorrow, then.

Swans want new deal for Fulton

The Sun report Swansea are keen to tie down Jay Fulton to a new deal.

It has been quite a remarkable turnaround for the Scottish midfielder in Landore, who was deemed surplus to requirements during Martin's early tenure. He was a trusted lieutenant under former boss Steve Cooper but found the going tough under the new regime. However, Fulton has been the ultimate professional and has worked his way back into favour. He's made 37 appearances this term, in all competitions.

His current deal expires at the end of next season and such has been his turnaround in fortunes, the club now want him to extend his stay in SA1.

Swansea have suffered contract disappointment in recent weeks, with Ryan Manning set to leave when his deal runs out at the end of this campaign.

Allen: Cooper will be a big player

Swansea midfielder Joe Allen says Ollie Cooper has a big future for club and country.

Allen recently hung up his international boots for the good of his Swansea career, a decision he described as "tough".

The future of Wales is in good hands, though, believes the stalwart, who says Cooper has impressed those within the international set-up.

“I think Ollie has every chance of being in the squad and contributing for Wales,” said Allen.

“He came away with us at the World Cup, and really impressed.

“It was a great experience for him, it was great for him to be around it but also for the Welsh staff to see him day in and day out.

“I know they could not speak highly enough about Ollie, I think as a player he has shown how good he is this season.

“He has become really important for us, he has a great character and personality, and he has got all the makings of being a big player for Wales.”

Early team news for Millers clash

Swansea have no fresh injury concerns from their 3-1 defeat to Stoke City. Fulton and Cundle could return to the matchday squad having missed out against the Potters due to injury.

Goalkeeper Steven Benda remains sidelined with a knee injury.

As for the Millers, they will be without centre-back Grant Hall owing to a hamstring injury.

Midfielder Ollie Rathbone (groin) and right-back Lee Peltier (hamstring) will continue to be assessed ahead of the game in south Wales.

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