The Swansea paella could gain a new ingredient soon with the South Wales club in talks Queens Park Rangers over midfielder Esteban Granero.
If Swansea strikes a deal for the 26 year old Spaniard that would mark manager Michael Laudrup’s seventh singing of the season after bringing in midfielder Jose Canas, defender Juan Amat, goalkeeper Gregor Zabret, striker Wilfried Bony, and attacking midfielders Alejandro Pozuelo and Jonjo Shelvey.
The deal would also punctuate Laudrup’s desire to overhaul Swansea into a side that is dominated by Spaniards.
Since his arrival at the Liberty Stadium 13 months ago, Laudrup has brought in six Spanish players – Chico Flores, Michu, Pablo Hernandez, Canas, Amat and Pozuelo. The addition of Granero to the squad would give Swansea a roster of eight players (Angel Rangel was the sole Spaniard at the club before Laudrup’s appointment) who are currently eligible to play for La Furia Roja.
The Granero deal is one that looks likely to get done as Laudrup worked with the midfielder during their shared time at Getafe and Granero fancies staying in the Premier League after QPR’s relegation following a dismal 2012-13 campaign.
Granero’s agent, Carlo Cutropia, has noted the ongoing talks and his client’s interest in joining the Spanish revolution in Wales. “The two clubs are talking about a transfer, it’s true,” Cutropia said. “Swansea are also looking at many Spanish players and play in Europe next year, [so] the destination would be absolutely acceptable to Esteban.”
Assuming he joins up at Swansea, expect Granero to compete for a starting spot in the Swans increasingly crowded central midfield, which includes holding players Ki Sung-Yueng and Canas, and attackers, Jonathan de Guzman, Leon Britton, Shelvey and Pozuelo.
Granero, capable of playing either role in the center of the park, managed 27 appearances for QPR after arriving on a £9 million move from Real Madrid last summer.
