Today's media round-up

28th May

The Swans have been linked with a number of new targets by the media in today's round-up.
Meanwhile, chairman Huw Jenkins praises the impact made by Michael Laudrup and Neil Taylor looks ahead to the challenge that lies ahead next season in the Premier League.


South Wales Evening Post
Laudrup set to lure Real Betis midfielder Jose Canas

Jose Canas will turn down a double-your- money pay deal to sign for Swansea City - because he wants to play for Michael Laudrup.
The Real Betis midfielder  is set to reject rival offers to become Laudrup's first summer signing.
Canas has long been linked with a move to the Liberty and the switch could be confirmed as early as next week. But Swansea have had to fight  off interest from rival Premier League clubs to move into pole position to land the anchorman.
The Evening Post understands West Brom made an offer to Canas, who is available on a free transfer this summer because his Betis contract is up.
The Baggies are believed to have put together a lucrative package which would have seen Canas earn as much as double what he will be paid by Swansea.
But the Laudrup factor looks to have convinced the Spaniard to opt for a move to Wales.
Swansea's owners hope the Dane's presence will help convince a number of his other transfer targets to move to SA1.
Laudrup is on the trail of several strikers  as he looks to add firepower to his squad in a bid to build on last season's ninth-place finish in the Premier League - but none of them will come cheap.
He is keen to land at least two high-calibre centre-forwards, and the Evening Post revealed at the weekend that he is interested in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Arouna Kone, having previously been linked with Iago Aspas and Romelu Lukaku.
Gabon international Aubameyang - a big hit with St Etienne last season - may be available for around £8 million, with Wigan man Kone likely to command a fee of around £5 million.
A deal for Celta Vigo's Aspas - who is now being touted as a target for Liverpool - would also be expected to break Swansea's current £5.55 million transfer record.

South Wales Evening Post
Swans lead chase for Betis ace

Swansea City are leading the race  to sign La Liga prospect Alejandro Pozuelo.
Real Betis starlet Pozuelo is thought to be attracting interest from a host of clubs this summer.
But Swansea are confident they will clinch the signing of the 21-year-old attacking midfielder, who has made 11 senior appearances this season and is being mentioned as a star of the future.
It seems the Michael Laudrup factor will have a key role in persuading Pozuelo to join Swansea.
The same is true of his fellow Real Betis midfielder Jose Canas (below), who is likely to be confirmed as Swansea's first summer recruit soon after the Spanish season ends this weekend.
The arrivals of the two Betis men will be a boost for Laudrup's plans for next season - but the Dane is also demanding a host of other new signings.
As reported in the Evening Post on Saturday, Laudrup has made it clear to Swansea's owners that he wants assurances over the club's plans for the transfer window.
He is keen to land at least two high-calibre centre-forwards, and is interested in men like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (left), Arouna Kone, Iago Aspas and Romelu Lukaku.
Reports in Denmark this weekend suggested Swansea were close to clinching a £10 million deal for Aubameyang, but there are question marks at this stage about whether Huw Jenkins would be willing to stump up such a sizeable transfer fee.
The Post understands that Aubameyang - who starred in France with St Etienne last season - may be available for around £8 million, but even then there would be no guarantee that Swansea would pay out that kind of sum.
Wigan star Kone, meantime, is expected to cost around £5 million, while Celta Vigo's Aspas is likely to command a fee in excess of Swansea's current £5.55 million club record.
Liverpool became the latest in a line of Premier League clubs to be linked with Aspas this weekend.
Meanwhile, Aubameyang has been touted as a potential target for Russian big spenders Anzhi Makhachkala.
Swansea are interested in taking Lukaku on a season-long loan from Chelsea, but there are no guarantees as yet that he will be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge again after last term's successful stint with West Brom.
The Blues must first appoint a new manager and, even then, it could be that they do not decide on whether to retain Lukaku for 2013-14 until pre-season.

Wales Online
Laudrup is Swans' biggest summer signing - says chairman Huw Jenkins

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins has insisted the club have already made their biggest summer signing - Michael Laudrup.
Boss Laudrup signed a one-year contract extension in March to tie him to Swansea until June 2015.
However, even that new deal has failed to scotch speculation of a summer move with Laudrup linked to the likes of Everton, Real Madrid and Monaco in recent weeks.
But Jenkins insists the former Denmark star is content to stay at Swansea and spearhead the club's Europa League challenge next season.
"I think it's important what we've done with Michael," said Jenkins.
"We've touched on players staying here and it's the same with Michael.
"He wants to stay here so it wasn't a difficult discussion to renew his contract.
"He wants to stay here and test himself with new challenges in the Europa League and the Premier League."
Swansea have suffered previous summer upheaval in recent years with Roberto Martinez, Paulo Sousa and Brendan Rodgers lured away by Wigan, Leicester and Liverpool respectively.
But Jenkins remains philosophical on the issue, saying: "It's a compliment for us as a club.
"With Roberto and Brendan moving on, we've showed that we've been doing things in a good way.
"We've enhanced many managers' careers over recent years and I think we've provided Michael with that lift and stability to raise his profile."

Wales Online
Taylor predicts a more competitive Premier League next season

Swansea City's Neil Taylor has predicted a more competitive Premier League next season because of the huge extra television revenue.
The Premier League is world football's richest competition with a £3billion deal for domestic TV rights kicking in next season.
But Taylor believes the new TV deal will make it more difficult for Michael Laudrup's Capital One Cup winners, who last season operated on the smallest budget in the division.
"I think it's about consolidating where we are," said Taylor.
"The Premier League's going to get stronger next season.
"There's more money available and teams are going to spend big, especially the teams below us.
"It's going to be really difficult. Just surviving in this league will be great again, but if we continue to finish in mid-table we're well above where we should be.
"For me personally, the season finished quite positively, but it's nice to get to the summer really," he said.
"Now we can put the season to bed and move on to the next one.
"I'm going to switch off for a while, just have a few weeks off and concentrate on my family then come back raring to go.
"I think it's just down to having personnel in the squad and, with six or seven maybe arriving in the summer, who knows what's going to happen?"
On Swansea's Europa League campaign, Taylor added: "We've moved back into a different qualifying round (because of Wigan's FA Cup win) but it's exciting for the club and it's exciting for the fans.
"Hopefully we'll take fans away with us and we can get into that group stage - that's when it gets exciting."