Swansea City: Garry Monk and Alan Tate poised to start season on sidelines

MICHAEL Laudrup has told club skipper Garry Monk and deputy Alan Tate they are unlikely to start the new season in his Swansea City side.

And the new Swansea manager has hinted that the two Liberty stalwarts are among a host of players who may be allowed to leave as he looks to trim down his squad.

Laudrup has stressed repeatedly that he wants to work with a senior squad of either 22 or 23 players.

Swansea currently have 25 senior men on their books, and the Dane wants to add two more "offensive" players before the transfer window closes.

That means at least four will have to leave if he is to get his way — and Laudrup will tell those players he sees as fringe men this week.

When asked specifically about Monk and Tate, Laudrup stressed that he is aware of the contributions both players have made to Swansea's successes over the last decade.

But he also indicated that Monk, 33, and 29-year-old Tate may have to consider moves if they want to play regular football this season.

"When you have been in football you know that there are different ways of being important," Laudrup said.

"There are a lot of traditions that you have to follow.

"You can be important because you are one of the best players, one of the most expensive players or because you are a local player.

"But you also have to remember that players who have done a great job for you are also important for you. They can be important for the other players as well.

"You are mentioning two players there who probably will not be in the starting XI, but they are still important players because of what they have done and are doing a lot for the rest.

"But you have to talk to everybody. You have to hear their opinion.

"I imagine those players want to play, and they have to make up their mind — 'What do I want to do if I am not in the first XI, sometimes not even the first 18?'.

But for me players like that will always be important for the group because of their personality or what they have done and still can do."

Laudrup revealed he had spoken to some members of his squad about the possibility of them moving on during Swansea's recent pre-season trip to America.

He is planning further discussions with players this week, and says Monk and Tate are among those he will sit down with.

"I will talk to those two," he added.

"I think it's very important to be honest with players about what the situation is now.

"Of course it can change. I could say 'Okay, my idea is that you are not in the first XI', but who knows what will happen in one month.

"I don't want to use the word injury because it's bad luck, but it's a contact sport and things can happen, or maybe someone has four or five bad games in a row and then we try something else.

"But my idea now is this and I think I have to tell the players.

"I am going talk to a lot of players this week and tell them how I see their positions.

"If they say they want to train hard and fight to be first choice, I respect that.

"But if they do that, they have to go back into the group and accept everything.

"The next ten or 12 days is the last time they can think only about themselves. If they say then that they want to stay, they have to accept our decisions."

Laudrup, meantime, hopes to add to his three Swansea signings imminently, ideally before the Premier League opener at Queens Park Rangers a week on Saturday.

"I have two players in my head," he said.

"One of the targets is quite close, the other one is more difficult because he is playing in quite a big club.

"They are both offensive players, but I cannot say any more than that."

Rumours persist that Swansea are keen on Bolton midfielder Mark Davies, and it could be that their interest in him grows if Joe Allen leaves.

Swansea have enquired about Getafe striker Miku and Bristol City winger Albert Adomah, but the club have played down reports linking them with striker Nemanja Nikolic.

The Serbian-born forward plays for Hungarian side Videoton, who are currently managed by Paulo Sousa.