**Swansea City Transfer Focus: Chelsea Striker Rumours Quashed and Update on McBurnie Pursuit**
As the summer transfer window intensifies, speculation regarding player movements continues to swirl around Swansea City. With fans eager for updates ahead of the new campaign, the club has been at the centre of several rumoured deals – some of which can now be clarified following the latest information from the Swansea.com Stadium.
Recent days have seen rumours circulate linking Chelsea’s promising forward Marc Guiu with a potential switch to the Swans. The 19-year-old, who made only sporadic appearances for the Blues in European competition last term, is expected to leave Stamford Bridge on loan to further his development. Reports emerging from Spain suggested that Swansea, alongside Championship rivals Ipswich Town, were engaged in early conversations with Chelsea about bringing the former Barcelona prodigy to south Wales for the season.
However, sources close to the club have confirmed that Swansea are not currently in the frame to sign Guiu. Despite Chelsea’s apparent desire to secure more English footballing experience for their young striker, suggestions of imminent talks or advanced negotiations with Swansea were wide of the mark. This clarification puts to rest any immediate hopes among the fanbase of seeing Guiu line up in Swans colours when the season commences.
The search for attacking reinforcements, nevertheless, remains a key priority for Michael Duff’s side, particularly amid uncertainty over the future of forward Jerry Yates. Yates, who did not join the squad on their recent pre-season training camp in Spain and has sat out recent friendly fixtures, is reportedly attracting interest from his former club, Blackpool. With Mykola Kuharevich already departing earlier in the window, the necessity for additional firepower up front appears ever more pressing.
Within this context, the name of former Swansea striker Oli McBurnie continues to resurface in transfer discussions. The Scotland international, who developed at Swansea before moving to Sheffield United, has long been admired by the club for his proven Championship pedigree. Media speculation over the weekend even suggested that the Swans were now positioned as favourites for his signature.
Yet, despite persistent rumours, there has been little discernible movement towards bringing McBurnie back to the Swansea.com Stadium. Financial considerations remain a significant obstacle, with the costs involved in both fee and wages proving prohibitive for the time being. There are also concerns about McBurnie’s lack of game time this pre-season, as the 29-year-old has featured minimally and may not be at full match sharpness. Nevertheless, club insiders maintain that while a deal is not imminent, it cannot be ruled out, and Swansea continue to monitor the situation closely.
Elsewhere, interest in McBurnie is not limited to Swansea. Hull City, who have also tracked the striker throughout the summer, were thought to be close to an agreement, only to be hamstrung by ongoing transfer restrictions imposed by the EFL. The Tigers’ ambitions may yet revive if their compliance situation changes in the coming weeks.
On the outgoing front, young midfielder Ben Lloyd has secured a loan move to Newport County, a switch he describes as a “great feeling” after finalising terms on Monday. The 20-year-old, who simultaneously extended his Swansea contract until 2027, is optimistic about the opportunities ahead at Rodney Parade. Lloyd credits the positive environment at Newport and looks forward to accelerating his development with regular football in the EFL.
Speaking about the move, Swansea’s director of football Richard Montague emphasised the club’s commitment to nurturing young talent. He highlighted the success of recent loans for players like Cameron Congreve and Joel Cotterill, expressing confidence that Lloyd’s spell at Newport would provide valuable experience that could prove instrumental in his progression.
As pre-season preparations gather pace, Swansea City’s supporters will be watching eagerly for further transfer news, hoping that the right acquisitions can help propel the team forward in the challenging Championship season ahead. The coming weeks promise to bring more twists and turns as the window’s deadline edges nearer.