[article]Swansea’s Spanish striker Michu set to join Napoli on season-long loan
• Michu has not gone on Swansea’s pre-season tour to the US
• Bahia International confirmed the clubs are in negotiations
Press Association
The Guardian, Wednesday 9 July 2014 11.59 BST
Napoli and Swansea City are in talks over the transfer of the Spanish striker Michu on a season-long loan. Michu has not travelled with Swansea to the United States for their pre-season tour.
Bahia International, the company that represents Michu, confirmed on Wednesday that the clubs are in negotiations with a view to Michu joining Napoli on a one-season loan deal.
Michu moved to Swansea from Rayo Vallecano in a £2.2m deal in the summer of 2012 and was the club’s top scorer with 22 goals in his first season.
However, last season the former Celta Vigo star struggled with knee and ankle problems which limited him to only 15 starts in the Premier League. The 28-year-old is under contract with the Swans until 2017.
Napoli’s Spanish coach Rafa Benítez is looking to strengthen their attacking lineup before next season’s Champions League campaign. The Naples club finished third in Serie A last season.[/article]
Weird. I know he was injured a lot last season, but surely his stock shouldn't have plunged till only loan offers were available?
If this does happen, then I suspect that Swansea think the injuries he had last season have wrecked him and he's only going downhill from here on. In which case, isn't it better then to sell him off for a low fee rather than to have him go on loan, play a season and confirm how bad things are? All sorts of weird for me.
And Benitez / Napoli - stop being el cheapo and buy Reina, Agger, etc. already.