Swansea loan star’s uncertain future
Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup has admitted that any hopes of keeping Jonathan de Guzman beyond this season will inevitably come down to money.
The Dutchman has been pivotal in the Swans’ successful second season in the Premier League, culminating in a League Cup win last month in which de Guzman scored twice in an emphatic 5-0 win over League Two side Bradford City.
The player is only on loan at the Liberty Stadium from parent club Villarreal, although South Wales Evening Post reports the two clubs have opened negotiations in turning his loan move into a permanent one.
The newspaper also claims that any fee would be in the region of £7million as Villarreal paid Real Mallorca around €8million for his services in 2011 – Real Mallorca’s manager, being one Michael Laudrup.
Certain
The Danish manager is certain the Netherlands international will not return to his parent club, but admits there is still a long way to go before any sort of deal can be made.
Laudrup said, as reported by the newspaper: “Whatever happens, I don’t think Jonathan will go back to Villarreal.
“They may take him back and try to use him to get some money, but I think it’s important what the player wants.
“Jonathan wants to stay with us, but you can never say for certain what will happen.
“There are lots of parties involved — the player, agents, the club who own him and ourselves.
“There is no agreement for us to sign him permanently in the loan deal. As it stands he goes back to Villarreal in the summer, so it’s a question of whether we can agree a fee with them.”
Academy
Despite being born in Canada, de Guzman was eligible to play for the Dutch national side after gaining Dutch citizenship in 2008 while at Feyenoord.
He spent eleven years in the Netherlands as he joined the club’s youth academy in 1999, before heading over to Spain in 2010 to link up with Laudrup at Real Mallorca, and heading on to Villarreal in 2011.
