Swansea expect Southampton interest in Wood

Luke Williams expects Southampton to beryllium among a group of clubs eyeing Swansea City defender Nathan Wood this summer.

Saints grounded pinch 2 bids worthy up to £10m for Wood past August.

Head coach Williams says nan cardinal defender, 22, is 1 of a fewer Swansea players attracting liking from rival clubs.

“Young players playing a batch of Championship shot astatine a decent level will ever pull attraction from suitors,” Williams said.

“I can’t talk immoderate much than that astatine nan infinitesimal but it is adjacent to opportunity that immoderate players person attracted interest.”

Swansea person agelong since accepted that Wood whitethorn time off this summer, pinch nan England Under-21 centre-back believed to beryllium willing successful moving on.

He has thrived since joining Swansea from Middlesbrough for astir £400,000 successful 2022, making 70 appearances and scoring 1 goal.

Wood was brought to Wales by Russell Martin, who had besides tried to motion him erstwhile successful complaint astatine MK Dons.

Martin’s attempts to return Wood to Southampton past twelvemonth failed, but Swansea are anticipating caller offers during nan upcoming transportation window.

Southampton’s manus has been strengthened successful financial position pursuing their promotion to nan Premier League, while Swansea are successful a weaker position now than they were past twelvemonth because of Wood’s statement situation.

Wood was signed connected an first two-year woody which was owed to expire this summer, but he is nether statement pinch nan Welsh nine until 2025 aft they took up nan action to trigger a 12-month hold successful April.

Williams conceded astatine nan extremity of nan 2023-24 play that it was “plausible” Wood would soon beryllium sold – and his position has not changed.

“He is still a Swansea player,” Williams added. “But he is surely a subordinate we are expecting liking in.

“With nan statement business and his mentality astatine nan infinitesimal - not successful immoderate antagonistic way, but he is very eager who knows there’s a batch of attraction astir him – I americium still successful nan aforesaid spot [regarding a imaginable exit].”

Williams says nan truth that Martin has coached Wood earlier will only summation his desire to motion him for a 2nd time.

“As caput coaches, you tin spot nan value of a subordinate connected nan transportation but unless you person worked pinch them, it’s very difficult to get a grasp of their personality,” said Williams, who had a spell arsenic Martin’s adjunct astatine Swansea.

“Unfortunately, Russell has worked pinch Nathan Wood and knows what a gem he is.

“I cognize location has been [previous] interest, past erstwhile we played Southampton [in January] they talked astir really overmuch they liked him, which is normal.

“I conjecture that liking hasn’t vanished, truthful I would expect them to beryllium astatine slightest 1 of nan clubs who are willing successful him now.”