Swansea City close to agreement for midfielder – Player not convinced by Championship switch

Swansea City have made significant progress in their pursuit of Valencia midfielder André Almeida, but the deal has hit an obstacle after the Portuguese player made it clear he does not want to play in the Championship.

That’s according to A Bola, which reports the Welsh club have already submitted an official offer and are now close to reaching an agreement with Valencia over the financial terms of the transfer.

The problem lies elsewhere. Almeida does not currently view a move to England’s second tier as the right step for his career, with the report stating he sees it as a backwards move and would rather wait for more attractive offers before deciding on his future.

Swansea City waiting on player’s decision

The report explains Valencia are actively looking to sell André Almeida this summer and have welcomed Swansea’s proposal.

Although there are still some details to resolve between the clubs, an agreement is said to be close. That means the transfer now depends almost entirely on whether the 25-year-old changes his mind.

People involved in the negotiations are reportedly trying to convince Almeida to reconsider. Swansea may also hope the presence of fellow Portuguese coach Vítor Matos helps their case, but A Bola says the midfielder has so far maintained his position.

That leaves Swansea in an awkward position. They have done much of the work with Valencia but cannot complete the signing without the player’s approval.

Valencia making exit clear

André Almeida’s situation at Valencia has been pointing towards a departure for some time.

Carlos Corberán has repeatedly hinted the midfielder is no longer part of his plans. The latest pre-season friendly provided another indication, with Almeida overlooked while winger Dani Raba was preferred.

Valencia paid around €7m (£6.1m) to sign Almeida, but he has struggled to establish himself as a regular since arriving in Spain. His contract extension last season came as a surprise, particularly because his playing time under Corberán remained limited afterwards.

The Spanish club now appear ready to cash in, and Swansea have positioned themselves well to take advantage.

For now, though, the biggest hurdle is not Valencia. It is convincing André Almeida that a move to the Championship is worth making.