'Plausible' that Wood will be sold by Swansea - Williams

Swansea City head coach Luke Williams says Nathan Wood’s contract situation means the centre-back may be sold this summer.

Wood, 21, is under contract until 2025 after Swansea triggered a one-year extension to his current deal last month.

Williams believes it is possible Wood will sign a new long-term agreement – but says the current position means the England Under-21 player may have to be sold.

“There’s an obvious conclusion to be drawn there, that this might be the correct moment [to sell] because it makes sense all round maybe,” Williams said.

“We are not going to be advertising that there is a sale on, half-price, come and get him because he is an unreal player - we love him to pieces.

“But the situation that presents itself [means] it’s plausible that [a transfer] will happen.”

Swansea paid around £400,000 to sign Wood from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2022.

Russell Martin, the man who brought Wood to Wales, tried to take Wood with him to Southampton last summer, but Swansea rejected two offers worth up to £10m from the Saints.

Wood is understood to have been keen on the Southampton move last year, and it would be no surprise should Martin revive his interest in the upcoming transfer window.

Wood has played 74 games for Swansea, scoring once, and is in line to feature against Millwall in the final game of the season on Saturday after Harry Darling underwent surgery on a foot injury.

Williams did suggest Wood could yet recommit to Swansea, saying: “Why not? I don’t think he is in a rush to do anything either way.”

Swansea this week announced pre-tax losses of £17.9m for the year ending July 2023, but Williams said club finances would not dictate Wood’s future.

“All clubs have the possibility to sell a player, let’s be honest, every single club bar 1%, if an entire state is backing them or something like this,” he said.

“The players all have a price, that’s the truth. But what I would say is that whilst the numbers are quite shocking at first, that is this industry and we are actually par for the course. It’s not like we are a massive outlier and it’s breaking news.

“That just shows the commitment of the people that are here now keeping everything. They are keeping it going because they believe we can be successful, and if we are successful everyone is happy.”