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Jackett's 19 Targets
Jackett's 19 Targets
Sunday, 22nd May 2005 00:00

Kenny Jackett's Wanted List Of Nineteen

Swans manager Kenny Jackett has given the chairman Huw Jenkins a list of 19 players that he has an interest in this summer as he shapes his squad for an assault on League One.

We already know of several names that were/are on this list - Martin Devaney, Grant Holt and Marc Goodfellow - but there are some more names there that have not yet leaked out in the press.

Of course, the Swans will not get these nineteen players, indeed they will not even get half of them but from the list of 19, Jackett believes that he will get enough players to ensurea decent return to League One after an absence of four seasons.

The list in full reads as follows

Jamie Cureton - The 29 year old striker has spent the last season and a bit at Jackett's former club QPR. Despite being used on the wing more often than not his league scoring record is still impressive with a career tally of near enough 1 goal in every 2 starts, but there were just 5 league goals for Jamie last year - including a hat-trick in a 4-1 demolition of Coventry at Loftus Road.

Shaun Goater - 49 appearances for Reading is one less then what is believed would trigger a clause in his contract that means the Royals would have to pay a further fee to Goater's former club Manchester City. He was loaned out to their championship Rivals Coventry for the last part of last season but failed to find the target. Again a career record shows almost 1 goal in every 2 starts and Goater has been quoted in the past as being a friend of Swans' assistant manager Kevin Nugent. Goater is 34.

Grant Holt - The Swans tried to land the Rochdale hit man before last season's transfer deadline but had their bid turned down. It's been 20 goals in 54 starts for Holt since he signed for Rochdale at the start of last year but, at just 23, his best days are surely still ahead of him? 24 goals last term from the main man but 16 yellow cards could also tell it's own story?

Andy Burgess - Again there were reports that the Swans approached Rushden about the services of Burgess before the last deadline day. This week, Rushden have agreed to a transfer request from the midfielder and he was rumoured to be in Wales this weekend for talks with the Swans Signing for Rushden as a trainee, he has made over 200 appearances for the Diamond men, scoring 23 times and is aged just 23.

Paul Heffernan - The 23 year old striker has spent the last 12 months at Ashton Gate where he has struggled to break regularly into their first team - appearing just 15 times in the league. It was a £125k move from Meadow Lane last summer and another player with a goal ratio of almost 1 in 2.

Ian Taylor - The veteran (37) year old midfielder has been at beaten play off semi finalists for the last 2 years, after previously spending 9 years at Villa Park. With over 500 appearances behind him, their is a wealth of experience there that Jackett could call on but would there be question marks over his ability to play in excess of 50 games per season. Possible coaching role along side playing?

Martin Smith - The 30 year old Northampton forward has scored 25 goals for the cobblers in his two years at Sixfields, having previously played for Huddersfield, Sheff Utd and Sunderland. 10 goals last season was half decent return - Smith notched 1 in our 2-2 draw at Northampton. With the Cobblers destined for another season in League Two, could he be persuaded to take a step up?

Sam Parkin - Parkin needs little introduction to many fans in the lower leagues. The 24 year old hit man scored 24 goals in League One for Swindon last year and has a ratio better than 1 in 2 since signing for them from Northampton in 2002. High bids have been rejected for the striker and it is expected that he would make a move this summer but whether that is to us, or whether we could afford him, remains to be seen.

Richard Langley - An interesting one. The 25 year old joined Cardiff in 2003 for £200,000 from Jackett's old club QPR. 2 goals last season for the Bluebirds took his league tally for the club to 8 from midfield. Could he be persuaded down the M4 to link up with his former coach?

Heidar Helguson - £1.5 million was what Watford paid for Helguson 5 years ago to bring the Icelandic international to this country. 64 goals in 199 appearances later and Kenny Jackett is considering a raid on his old club to bring him to White Rock. 2 goals on the international stage in 26 caps.

Mark Farren - at 35, this will be one of the targets that Swans fans have heard little about. 4 goals in 10 games this term for Irish outfit Derry is hardly inspiring stuff. Their official web site tells us that they hoped Farren would steer clear of injuries and show the talent that they have only seen glimpses of.

Mark Bentley - A 27 year old midfielder currently with Southend. 20 goals in 101 league starts but 6 for the Shrimpers this season in their run to two Cardiff finals.

Brian Howard - The 22 year old midfielder joined Swindon from Southampton where he had been a trainee. 10 goals in 83 games have followed for the county ground side.

Leroy Lita - And it's back to Ashton Gate as Jackett shows an interest in the 20 year old forward currently with Bristol City. Coming through their youth set up, Lita notched 29 goals last term to take his club tally to 38 in just 100 appearances - 49 of them as sub. With that goal tally last term it would be surprising if City let him go?

Junior Agogo - just across the city from Ashton Gate, Junior Agogo was banging in 21 goals for Rovers last season including 1 against the Swans in April in what could be his last game for the club. £110,000 was what it cost Rovers to prise him for Barnet in 2003.

Guilano Grazioli - 29 goals from the 30 year old former Bristol Rovers, Swindon and Peterborough amongst other striker was a major reason why Barnet returned to the football league. It has also meant that league clubs are sitting up and taking notice again and with over 100 goals to his name in his career it's enough for Jackett to have him on his wanted list.

Kris Boyd - Jackstt is spreading his net wide in the search for talent and Kris Boyd at Kilmarnock has notched 19 goals this season, taking his tally to 51 in just 97 starts for the SPL outfit.

Dave Bingham - whilst many have talked the name of Kenny Deuchar this season, Bingham as his strike partner scored 28 goals as Grenta walked their league. At 34, his best days may be behind him but his career tally of 173 goals in 468 appearances (43 of which are as sub) is a pretty impressive tally.

Steve Lomas - Possibly the most well known player on the list. The 31 year old midfielder has seemingly been around for ever but has only ever played for Man City and West Ham. The Hammers paid £1.6 million for him in 1997 and he has appeared over 200 times for them in 364 career appearances. Add to that 45 caps for Northern Ireland and you have a vast experience that would be very useful at League One. Lomas has made 25 appearances for the Hammers this season but none since March.

And there you have Jackett's 19 summer targets, from which he will hope to get the necessary additions to allow us to take a step up a division. We also understand that Jackett is planning to use two season loans to bring in a player from both Everton and Manchester United realising that with the transfer window now affecting Coca Cola league clubs, he needs to make his move in the summer.

And with 19 players being looked at there could be plenty for Kenny to do before he heads off on his summer holiday to Florida.

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