Swansea City summer transfers are ‘positive’ – general manager Julian Winter

General manager Julian Winter has defended Swansea City’s transfer deals, saying the summer window was “positive” for the Championship club.

“I think we had a [transfer] window, ”Winter said.

He also said that the US owners of Swansea are not happy that Swansea remains in second place.

When asked if the owners are looking to sell the club, Winter told BBC Radio Wales Sport: “I have been here for 12 months. I have no other instinct that they are here for the longest. term.”

In the more immediate future, Winter says boss Russell Martin has more permanent signings and fewer loaner players at his disposal than his predecessor Steve Cooper, who left after taking Swansea to the playoffs last season.

“We have had bigger transitions in the past here. As a club we have faced a set of circumstances and we have dealt with them,” said Winter, who was speaking previously. Swansea’s 0-0 home draw against Hull City Saturday.

He added: “Now that we have gone out the window I think we are thinking positively about the team.

“As I have tried to say since I’ve been here you must try to feel that you came out of a window stronger than you entered and I think every time we did. . “

Winter was asked if he really feels Swansea is stronger after losing Ayew, Marc Guehi, goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, Roberts and Jamal Lowe.

“Yeah, suited to where we’re at now, right – such a different head coach, a different set of ideas,” Winter said.

“André is André – let’s not try to pretend he’s not a big failure, but we all know his financial situation has been tough for the club in our entire time in the league.

“But I think we had a positive window. Some players will inevitably leave.

“The players are moving, we brought in replacements. We’re less reliant on the loan market now – only two loans in the squad at the moment, that’s a positive thing.

“But we have our own strengths to grow and contribute to the team.”

The departure of Welsh defender Roberts for Burnley has left many Swans fans unhappy with the fees of around £ 2.5million received for the home player.

Winter said Swansea offered Roberts a new contract but the situation called for the player to leave.

“We and Connor thought it was time for him to go,” Winter said.

“He only had a year left. Was he going to expire his contract? We don’t know, but he maybe did and he would have ended up going for nothing.

“So you have to pass judgment at the end of the day. “

Matt Grimes sparked interest elsewhere, mainly from Fulham, but the midfielder ended up staying despite his contract expiring next summer.

Winter said talks about Grimes’ long-term future continued after the club interested in him “failed to reach” Swansea’s assessment of the exeter youngster.

“We will be talking to Matt regularly about his situation,” Winter said.

£ 10million loan from US homeowners

When asked about the US owners of Swansea, Winter pointed to a £ 10million loan made by Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan with director Jake Silverstein.

“I was almost here 12 months from the week I started and during my time [they] invested a significant amount of money through a loan note, so £ 10million was paid last year, ”he added.

“There will be a need for funding this year, depending on the business we have done and they will support this club.

“You can always say” is that ambitious enough? “Well, what’s ambitious enough? I’m not really sure what that number would be.

“But the owners financially supported this club last year and so in terms of where I sit they supported the football club and they want the football club to be successful.”

He added: “They are long term sports investors so they will support this club.

“I think the word ambitious – what does it have to sound like to sound ambitious? If you look at some clubs, the owners are spending huge sums of money to get nowhere.

“I think this football club has a good platform. It is very well run in the sense that we are not going to lose a lot of money like a lot of people are.

“We are relatively debt free with the exception of the loan I just mentioned and compare that to a myriad of other league and Premier League football clubs – the club are healthy.

“They support this club. We have done the work that we have done in this window to bring in players.

“We have acquired players. We have not relied on the loan market because that is what we think we have to do.”