Oli McBurnie signs: How Swansea City's perfect summer transfer window would look | OneFootball

Swansea City need a reliable goalscorer and some defensive cover. Here are four players who could constitute a perfect summer for them.

With their last four consecutive seasons having ended with them finishing between 10th and 15th in the Championship, it's been a few years since Swansea City supporters had much to get excited about.

The Swans finished the 2024/25 season in 11th place in the Championship, a return which might have been worse but which still saw them finish seven points of a play-off place.

Having sacked Luke Williams in February, Swansea appointed former first team coach Alan Sheehan as their permanent new head coach at the end of April after he impressed throughout his spell as interim manager following Williams' departure. At that time, the club's sporting director Richard Montague said that the club wanted a replacement who was "at the forefront of the game".

Whether that turns out to be Sheehan remains to be seen, and his first job will be to rearrange his squad into one that can challenge nearer the top of the table next time around. Here are four players who could help him to achieve that goal.

Oli McBurnie

The former Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie would be an ideal choice for a club that haven't really had a number nine since Joel Piroe left for Leeds United in 2023. Liam Cullen was their top scorer last season with 11 goals, but a new striker would give Sheehan options for the new season.

McBurnie is understood to be considering his options and he's certainly familiar with the club. He was a Swansea player from 2015 to 2019, when he secured a £17 million move to Sheffield United after scoring 22 Championship goals in 2018/19.

McBurnie signed for Las Palmas at the end of his contract with the Blades, but Las Palmas' relegation from La Liga at the end of the 2024/25 season will have given the striker pause for thought over his future intentions.

But there is one potentially massive stumbling block to a move to Swansea actually happening. It has been reported that Celta Vigo could be interested him, and they could offer him not only top-flight football in La Liga next season, but also the possibility of competing in the Europa League.

If McBurnie could be persuaded to return to the Swansea.com Stadium, he could be just the man to fire the Swans in the right direction next season.

Semi Ajayi

Harry Darling is out of contract with Swansea this summer and there has been considerable interest in him from other Championship clubs such as Wrexham and Birmingham.

But regardless of whether he stays or goes, Swansea could do with a little extra cover in the centre of their defence.

Semi Ajayi could be an ideal candidate. Formerly on the books of fierce rivals Cardiff City without making an appearance, the defender reportedly turned down a new contract offer from West Bromwich Albion and could therefore be available, and having run up 170 league appearances for West Brom over the last five years he's got plenty of experience.

Ben Davies

The Tottenham defender, who's out of contract, might be a little out of the Swans' budget in terms of his wage demands, but the Ben Davies who spent the 2024/25 season on loan from Rangers at Birmingham City could be a solid addition at Swansea.

He can play at either left-back or centre-back, and that flexibility may well appeal to Alan Sheehan. And with more than 300 senior league appearances already under his belt, the 29-year-old can hardly be said to be lacking experience.

He performed well at St Andrew's last season, but with ex-Swans boss Russell Martin now appointed as the new Rangers manager the option of trying to prove himself at his parent club could appeal. But considering how well his loan spell at Birmingham went, he could be a valuable addition to Swansea's ranks.

Kian Best

Cover at full-back could also be important, with Josh Key and Josh Tymon having filled those positions during the 2024/25 season.

Kian Best is only 19 years old and can play in a range of positions on the left-hand side, including left-back. He's a product of the academy at Preston North End.

He's rated, with five caps already for the England under-19s, and he was on loan in Ireland with Bohemians last season before being released by his parent club. He could be a player that Swansea can develop for the future.