Southampton midfielder, Jack Cork, is set to move to Gary Monk’s Swansea after the Saints accepted a bid worth £3m according to the Daily Mail.
Cork, who is a product of the Chelsea youth set up, has held a place in the hearts of Saints fans since he impressed whilst on a loan spell at the club in 2008. He joined on a permanent deal from Chelsea in 2011 and has played a key role in Southampton’s rise up the divisions and into the Champions League places.
However, the superb performances of Morgan Schneiderlin, Victor Wanyama, James Ward-Prowse and, more recently. the highly rated youngster, Harrison Reed, have kept Cork on the sidelines.
The 25-year-old is out of contract at St. Mary’s this summer and has stalled on signing a new contract whilst he makes his decision. With negotiations having dragged on longer than Ronald Koeman and the board would have liked they will be keen to cash in on Cork to prevent losing him on a free come the end of the season.
TalkSport commentator and co-author of Saints book ‘Match of My Life’, Alex Crook, tweeted yesterday stating that Saints were unlikely to make anymore moves in this window, but that the Cork deal could revive interest in Feyenoord’s Tonny Vilhena.
Was told yesterday #saintsfc were not planning any more signings. With Cork going and genuine interest in Vilhena that could change
— Alex Goring Crook (@alex_crook) January 29, 2015
Koeman has also been linked with another Feyenoord midfielder, Jordy Clasie, who worked under Koeman in his time as manager and is the club captain. Clasie has been labelled the “ideal replacement” for current Saints man, Morgan Schniederlin who’s future at the club is uncertain, the most likely outcome being a move away from the South Coast this summer.
Swansea have money to spend after Wilfred Bony’s move to Manchester City and Jack Cork would be a fine addition to most Premier League sides. Monk’s side travel to St. Mary’s on Sunday looking to pick themselves up from a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Sky Bet Championship side, Blackburn, in the FA Cup last weekend.