Saturday, January 4, 2025

Darling’s Swansea contract talks set to be ‘put to bed’

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Harry Darling’s Swansea City future may not be settled until the summer with negotiations over a new contract set to be “put to bed”.

Swansea have been attempting to persuade Darling to sign a new long-term deal and the club’s offer to the centre-back remains on the table.

With the ball now firmly in Darling’s court, a decision on his next move may not be made until the end of the season, when he is due to become a free agent.

Swansea head coach Luke Williams had been optimistic that Darling would follow defensive partner Ben Cabango’s lead by signing a new contract.

But when asked after Swansea’s New Year’s Day thrashing at Portsmouth whether there had been any progress in the Darling negotiations, Williams said: “Not at the moment.

“I think we are potentially going to be putting that to bed and letting Harry concentrate on his football.”

Swansea are working on a January deal for Wales international defender Joe Low, with the Wycombe Wanderers player seen as a potential long-term replacement for Darling.

Former Cambridge United player Darling signed a three-year deal when he joined Swansea from MK Dons in 2022.

He has started every league game alongside Cabango in Williams’ back four this season.

Cabango may be a doubt for Saturday’s game against West Bromwich Albion after coming off late in the Portsmouth defeat, while Nelson Abbey is no longer available after Williams confirmed that his season-long from Olympiakos has been brought to a premature end.

Abbey has left Swansea having made just one League Cup appearance since arriving in August.

“He has had a really tough time getting minutes here with the level of Harry and Ben, through no fault of his own,” Williams said.

“He is a terrific character and he will go and play brilliantly for somebody now. We thank him for all his hard work with us.”

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