Players silly to leave Swansea

Last updated : 16 January 2011 By BBC Sport

Nathan Dyer insists Swansea City stars would be "silly" to leave in January's transfer window as the Welsh club moved into the Championship's top two.Wales defender Ashley Williams, top-scorer Scott Sinclair and midfielder Darren Pratley have been linked with moves away from the Liberty Stadium.

But Dyer hopes Swansea's Premier League promotion credentials means Brendan Rodgers retains his prized-assets.

"Anybody would be silly to move in the January transfer window," said Dyer.

"With the position we're in at the the moment."

Williams only signed a new four-year Swansea contract in 2009 but the 26-year-old centre-back has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs.

We have a good squad here and even if some players did decide to leave in the January window, which I very much doubt, we have a good enough squad to keep pushing

Swansea City winger Nathan Dyer

Former Swans boss Roberto Martinez's new club Wigan Athletic has been linked with the stand-in Wales skipper who has helped Swansea keep 13 clean sheets this season.

Former Chelsea winger Sinclair scored his 15th and 16th goals of the season with two penalties to beat struggling Crystal Palace 3-0 on Saturday.

And the England under-21 international has attracted top-flight attention while Pratley, who is out of contract at the end of the season, was subject of an unsuccessful bid by Championship rivals Nottingham Forest in the summer.

But winger Dyer believes Swansea's promotion tilt should keep their second-placed squad in tact for the final top-flight push.

"It don't feel it is a problem for us," said Dyer.

"And unless they really need players, most managers won't buy until the summer.

"We have a good squad here and even if some players did decide to leave in the January window, which I very much doubt, we have a good enough squad to keep pushing."

Dyer's man-of-the-match performance on Saturday inspired Swansea to leapfrog rivals Cardiff and Norwich into second and three points behind leaders Queen's Park Rangers.

Dominant Swans delight Rodgers

The 23-year-old, who Swansea signed for £400,000 from Southampton in 2009, was fouled by Palace defender David Wright to win the Swans' first penalty - his fifth assist this season - for Sinclair to score.

"I felt we were promotion contenders at the start of the season but people didn't see us as a threat," said Dyer.

"But they are starting to see us as contenders. We must keep performing and I'm sure we'll get the results."

The Swans stuttered over Christmas and failed to win at home for six weeks before their 1-0 win over Barnsley on 28 December.

But the Welsh club's convincing 3-0 triumph over Palace on Saturday was their fourth successive home win and fourth successive clean sheet - and their 13-game shutout total this season is second only to QPR.

Swansea, whose club record 24 clean sheets was a Championship high last season, face trips to struggling Barnsley and Bristol City before hosting closest rivals Cardiff at the Liberty Stadium on 6 February.

"It is very important to keep momentum going at home," Dyer's midfield colleague Joe Allen.

"And another clean sheet at home was very important.

"Over Christmas there were games where we didn't look our best and we've bounced back with victories and more importantly clean sheets.

"It is crucial we maintain that momentum."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport