Swansea City warned that star is 'destined to leave' as West Ham, Stoke City lurk | OneFootball

FLW's Swansea fan pundit shares their thoughts on Stoke City's link with Ethan Galbraith

Swansea City will be heading into the upcoming campaign highly confident of going and attacking the top six once again after falling just short last time around, but will be holding their breath on the future of one of their star assets.

At one stage last season, it appeared as though Swansea could be in danger of slipping into a relegation battle if they weren't careful.

Alan Sheehan was afforded the summer transfer window after an excellent stint in charge as interim boss, but the Irishman would last until only November, before being replaced by Portuguese boss Vitor Matos.

Matos, who had previously worked as a coach at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, arrived in South Wales from Maritimo, in what was just his second role as a head coach across his career, and since his arrival, has done a solid job.

The 38-year-old looks set to guide the Swans into the summer window before next campaign, but faces an uphill battle to keep hold of one of his star performers from last season, with interest from a division rival emerging.

Stoke City have made Swansea City's Ethan Galbraith one of their top targets this summer amid interest from West Ham and Wrexham

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Ethan Galbraith was one of Swansea's outstanding performers last season, balancing his game time between right-back and midfield, performing admirably in both, but could be on his way out of the club this summer.

The former Manchester United youth prospect joined the Welsh outfit from Leyton Orient last summer for a mere £1.5 million, and made 39 Championship appearances in his maiden year with the club, but according to John Percy via X, has been made a top target of Stoke City this summer.

Galbraith, 25, reportedly rejected a fresh deal with the Swans just a couple of months ago, and has yet to sign an extension on his current deal, which lasts until the summer of 2028, though the club have an option to extend by a further year if they wish.

Football League World's Swansea fan pundit, Will Hughes, has shared their thoughts on Stoke emerging as a contender for Galbraith's signature, whether they think the midfielder will go, and if the Potters stand a chance of luring him to the bet365 Stadium.

Will said: "The Galbraith saga is evolving every day. To be honest, when I first saw the Stoke links, I've got to be honest, I just brushed it off. Totally brushed it off. I thought, if he was going to go anywhere, I wouldn't have thought it would be to Stoke, and I don't mean any disrespect by that, I would have just expected him to go maybe somewhere that is, for one, destined to go to the Premier League, or two, someone that is already maybe in the Premier League, like a lower Premier League club.

"I do think he's got the potential to be a Premier League player. He's got so many attributes, you know, he's a wonderful player. But this summer, so far and towards the end of last season, I think he is destined to leave the Swans.

"Of course, I don't think any of us truly know what's happened with his contract. You know, we're hearing rumours that he's turned it down because he wants to go elsewhere, or it's his agent telling him to turn it down because they're not happy with it. The release clause that the club has imposed on him; they think it's too high, and they think that's going to hinder him being able to leave.

"So no, I only see this ending one way, and that is Galbraith leaving the football club.

"I was initially hoping that he'd maybe stick it out for another year before, you know, he goes elsewhere. But the whole, as I say, the contract situation, the agent potentially meddling with things, to me, it just seems like maybe it's best that he does go. Because, as I say, you don't want to burn bridges.

"The best thing that could potentially happen is if Galbraith does actually want to go, and it's him who's forcing the hand of his agent or whoever to try and get him out of the club, then the Swans will need to make sure we get the right fee for him and that he does go.

"Obviously, as of recent news as well, it looks like Wrexham are involved with potentially looking to bring him in. That doesn't come as a surprise because any time there's interest in our player, it seems like they are interested in them.

"But if you had to put a gun to my head who I would say he's most likely to go to out of Wrexham or Stoke, I'd probably say Wrexham. I mean, you know, they are a club on the up. As a Swansea fan, I don't like admitting it, but they are a club on the up.

"But as I say, we'll have to wait and see what happens. I can't see it being Stoke. I really can't. No matter how much money they have, whatever wages they're willing to pay, I just can't see him going there. I feel it's a sideways move, to plenty, even a backwards move. But as I say, I do think he'll end up going somewhere; I just can't see it being there."

Ethan Galbraith could leave Swansea City this summer, but Stoke City move has been cast into doubt by Swans fan pundit

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With Galbraith having yet to commit his future to Swansea, there is a growing expectation that he could leave the club this summer.

However, under contract until the summer of 2028, with an option to extend for another year, essentially leaving him three years on his current terms, Swansea are firmly in the driving seat when it comes to this matter.

Wrexham have also registered an interest in the midfielder, whilst Football League World also previously exclusively revealed that West Ham had joined the race for his services.

Where Galbraith will be playing his football next season remains to be seen, but FLW's Swansea fan pundit doesn't seem to think it will be Stoke, as for a side which hasn't recorded a top-half finish in a decade, that viewpoint is hardly unsurprising.