Why Swansea City must perform Zan Vipotnik u-turn on Watford, Plymouth Argyle evidence | OneFootball

Zan Vipotnik's performances in the last week show that he still has a future at Swansea City

With less than a week of the transfer window remaining, Swansea City are still yet to get their desired striker signing over the line after a summer of near-misses.

It's been a very productive couple of months for Swansea in the transfer market, with their squad undoubtedly stronger now than it was at the end of last season, but there's a feeling that it won't be deemed a successful transfer window until a new striker is brought in.

The club have made no secret of their efforts to bring a striker in, with Richard Kone and Oli McBurnie both prime targets before opting for QPR and Hull City respectively, while interest in Jusef Erabi also appears to have cooled after being linked with the Hammarby man earlier this month.

Swansea have started Liam Cullen up front in all three of their Championship fixtures so far this season and while the Welshman has proven himself for both club and country in the last 12 months or so, it's clear he's better playing slightly deeper, which has raised question marks over striker Zan Vipotnik's future at the club.

Vipotnik's first season in South Wales was a mixed bag and with the club keen to sign a new striker his future looks uncertain, but recent form may just have made Swansea think twice about moving him on this month.

Zan Vipotnik has shown that he has plenty to offer Swansea City

The Slovenian international found the back of the net just seven times for Swansea in his first season at the club, and while that's not an awful return, many supporters expected better given the excitement that followed his move from Bordeaux last summer.

The 23-year-old had been prolific in his homeland with Maribor and reached double figures in Ligue 2 prior to the move to the Championship, but his form in a Swans' shirt meant the club have been looking to upgrade this summer.

There have been suggestions that Swansea could move Vipotnik on if they're able to recruit a striker before the end of the transfer window and with Cullen favoured out of position in the opening weeks of the season, the writing looked on the wall for the Slovenian.

However, he's responded well to being left out of the team, coming off the bench to score an equaliser in Swansea's draw with Watford on Saturday, before scoring a long-range goal against Plymouth in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night to take his tally to two goals this season and make him the club's top goalscorer at this early stage of the campaign.

It took the 23-year-old until November to score two goals last season, and perhaps there are signs that he's adapting to English football and will offer more of a threat for Swansea this time around.

With a trip to Sheffield Wednesday looming, Vipotnik has done enough to earn a starting place in Alan Sheehan's league lineup for the first time this season, and two goals in as many games may just be enough to save his Swans career for now.

Zan Vipotnik's form means Swansea City shouldn't panic buy

With just a couple of days left of the transfer window, it would be easy for Swansea to panic and pay over the odds for a striker or sign someone who perhaps doesn't fit their style of play just to ensure they get someone through the door.

However, Vipotnik has shown in the last week that he could still be a real asset for Swansea, and with a run of games under his belt, then there's no reason why he can't be Swansea's main man this season and show why the club gave him a four-year deal just last summer.

Just last week, Sheehan told the BBC that Swansea would only sign a striker with enough quality to strengthen their front line and wouldn't be making signings for the sake of it, and while he name-checked Cullen as his main striker option, Vipotnik's goals in the past week have surely pushed him up the pecking order.

Swansea also have young Scottish striker Bobby Wales, who joined from Kilmarnock in the summer and scored against Crawley Town in the Carabao Cup, so they certainly have options up front regardless of any incomings.

While the majority of the Jack Army would still like to see a striker signed before Monday's deadline, Vipotnik's exploits against Watford and Plymouth may mean the club think twice about any moves in the coming days, and the Slovenian has done enough to remain in SA1 for the foreseeable future.