Star may return to Burnley from Swansea City - Norwich City, West Brom & Millwall must eye potential transfer raid | OneFootball

Manuel Benson could be available in the January transfer window after a difficult loan spell with Swansea City from Burnley.

Swansea City are facing up to a huge January transfer window under new boss Vitor Matos, as he looks to put his mark on the group.

The 37-year-old has inherited a club in a difficult position, and whilst the win over Oxford United was very welcome, the Swans are still nervously looking over their shoulder as they look to pull clear of the relegation zone.

That shows the scale of the task facing Matos, and he will no doubt already have names lined up to join the club as he looks to implement his style with the Welsh club.

Manuel Benson could depart Swansea City in January

Yet, it won’t all be about incomings, and Matos will know that some departures are necessary to free up space and funds.

The Portuguese boss has already revealed that Manuel Benson could be among those to leave, with the winger facing an uncertain future once he returns from AFCON duty with Angola.

Benson is only on loan at Swansea from Burnley, but a limited impact highlights that it just hasn’t worked, so returning to Turf Moor and moving elsewhere could suit all parties.

Of course, Benson has shown his quality in the Championship previously, having starred for Vincent Kompany’s side as they won the Championship title in the 2022/23 season.

So, you would still think there would be takers for Benson on a temporary basis, and here we look at THREE clubs who should consider a move for the 28-year-old…

Norwich City

Phillipe Clement is facing a huge task to keep Norwich in the Championship, so the club may need to gamble on someone like Benson to strengthen the squad.

The Canaries have lost Ante Crnac for the remainder of the campaign through injury, whilst Papa Diallo has barely featured and may not return until 2026.

Therefore, bringing in a few attackers will be a priority, and Benson could be ideally suited to the way the Belgian wants to play, as he will provide width, he is direct, and he can bring that x-factor that Norwich are sometimes lacking.

There are risks to this potential deal, but, as outlined above, with Norwich’s precarious position, they may be in a position where they must gamble, and if Benson does rediscover his best form, he would improve the Norfolk outfit, and he could be just what Josh Sargent needs to get back to scoring regularly.

West Brom

West Brom have had a difficult season, and a key reason for their struggles has been a lack of spark in the final third, so targeting someone like Benson would make sense.

The sale of Tom Fellows has robbed Albion of genuine pace and creativity, and whilst Benson doesn’t have the exact same skill-set as the Southampton man, he is capable of unlocking the opposition defence.

At times, Albion are predictable in the way they play, and Ryan Mason needs to take the handbrake off if he is set to get the fans back on side after a difficult run - and Benson could help on that front.

You would expect bringing in at least one winger would be a priority for the Baggies, so Benson would solve that issue, even if further reinforcements are also required.

Millwall

With Millwall flying high in the Championship, it may seem strange that they could be in the market for a player who has failed to make a positive impact at struggling Swansea.

But, if Benson does get anywhere near his best, he is capable of playing a part for almost anyone in the division, and he would add more skill and flair to a solid Millwall team that sometimes lack that star quality.

Plus, his ability from a dead ball could help Alex Neil’s side, but Benson would face a battle to get in the XI on a consistent basis when you consider how well the Lions have done.

Yet, that position in the table will make them an attractive option next month, and a loan deal for Benson could be a low-risk move with high reward for Millwall.