Laudrup makes first signings for Swansea

Published on 11/07/2012 02:27

Manager Michael Laudrup has started the process of putting his own stamp on Swansea by making his first signings since succeeding Brendan Rodgers last month. The Dane yesterday completed the captures of defender Jose Manuel Flores and midfielder Jonathan de Guzman as he builds towards his first campaign as a Premier League manager.

Centre-half Flores, more commonly known as Chico, joins from Genoa for an initial fee of £2million, while De Guzman arrives from Villarreal on a season-long loan deal. Both players previously worked with Laudrup during his time in charge of Mallorca and he will hope the pair can fill the gap in the Swans’ squad left by the exits of Steven Caulker and Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Flores, 25, who has signed a three-year contract subject to international clearance, and De Guzman admitted that the chance to work with Laudrup again was a big factor in their decisions to move to the Liberty Stadium.

Flores the club’s official website: “He was one of the main reasons I signed. He knows me as a person and a player, so I was honoured when the call came. I believe the manager will be good for Swansea and they have done extremely well to get him. Swansea’s way of playing is the same style as he wants to play the game. He is the right person to take this club forward.” De Guzman, 24, added: “I am fortunate that I will be working under a good coach at Swansea who lets you be free and allows you to do what you do best. I like to attack as a midfielder, box to box, and hopefully I can add my share of goals along the way.”

Swansea will have the option to sign De Guzman, who relegated Villarreal paid a fee of around £7million for less than 12 months ago, on a permanent basis at the end of the season.

And the Canadian-born Holland under-21 international admits Swansea had caught his eye during their impressive maiden Premier League campaign last term. “I watched Premier League football every week on the TV last season,” he said. “I was aware that Swansea are a good footballing side, but they really caught my eye when they beat Manchester City.”