Transfer news – Swansea snap up Chelsea starlet Sinclair
Published:Swansea City have completed the signing of Scott Sinclair from Chelsea in a deal which could break the Welsh club’s transfer record.
The 21-year-old forward joins Brendan Rodgers’ side for an initial £500,000, though this could rise to £1m, depending on appearance and performance-related clauses.
Swansea are 6/1 to win promotion to the Premier League this season, and this acquisition is an unusually lavish statement of intent from the frugal south Wales club.
“While everyone is aware that we run a tight ship here financially, we will always invest in the team when funds are available,” said the Swans’ chief executive Huw Jenkins. “I think this signing highlights our intent.”
The transfer also underlines the value of Rodgers’ contacts from his time as youth and reserve team manager at Chelsea.
Should the former Watford boss be able to attract more prospects like Sinclair to the Liberty Stadium, Swansea could be genuine promotion contenders.
Having lost Leon Britton to Sheffield United, Swansea are in need of midfield reinforcements, though it is up front where they most need to invest.
Stephen Dobbie is 66/1 to be the Championship’s top scorer this season, but he and fellow strikers Craig Beattie and Shefki Kuqi have struggled for goals at Swansea.
Sinclair, who has had loan spells at Wigan and QPR, could ease the goalscoring burden on a Swans side which mustered just 40 league goals last season.
Sinclair is the Swans’ third signing this summer, following the arrivals of Wrexham left-back Neil Taylor and Aldershot midfielder Scott Donnelly.
Who do you think will challenge for promotion this season? Leicester are 9/2 to go up. See the full Championship 2010/11 Betting Odds market.
