The Kasey Palmer situation, what Bristol City and Swansea City have said and the mixed messages about ex-Chelsea starlet
There have been some mixed messages coming from both sides of the Severn as Swansea City revive their interest in
Tom Coleman
Kasey Palmer has emerged as a target for Swansea City
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Swansea City's decision to revive their interest in attacking midfielder Kasey Palmer has understandably come as a surprise.
The Swans were keen admirers of the former Chelsea starlet back in the summer, but missed out on completing a move due to their failure to offer a the permanent deal he was looking for.
Now, just a few months later, and despite a promising start to life at Ashton Gate, it seems we're here again, with Palmer believed to be unsettled and already potentially open to a move away.
Of course, the wider picture is a little more complicated than that.
Palmer is understood to be just one of several targets being looked at, with Rhian Brewster believed to be one of them.
It's highly unlikely that both would be brought on board on loan deals, but there are signs that a deal could potentially be done if the Swans want it.
Here's what everyone involved has had to say on it all.
Steve Cooper, Swansea City boss
The Swans boss has not yet commented specifically on any apparent interest in Palmer, but has already played down the prospect of bringing anyone in this winter, adding he is prepared to
And Cooper says he's prepared to work with the players he currently has at his disposal for the remainder of his debut campaign at the Liberty Stadium.
"I don't think we will be bringing any players in. I have said that many times in the last few weeks," he said recently.
"We are not that club at the moment that has the ability or the luxury to bring players in.
"But that's fine. We work with the players we have got and we try to get the best out of them."
However, he has stopped short of categorically ruling out any new faces.
Interestingly, when asked about loan deals, Cooper appeared to soften his stance a little.
"They can be costly as well. I don't know. With loans it depends on an individual basis because they come with different stipulations," added Cooper.
"Until you see one and see what it's worth individually, you can't really make a decision on that."
Lee Johnson has already had his say on Kasey Palmer's future (Image: Getty Images)
Lee Johnson, Bristol City boss
On the face of it, Johnson appears to have suggested that the club is not interested in letting Palmer go in this window, but his comments before the clash with Brentford are hardly a categorical denial of a potential move.
Palmer has struggled to nail down a regular place in the team in recent weeks, and was left out of the Robins' last two games, which unsurprisingly may have left some fans putting two and two together.
However, judging by Johnson's recent comments it seems Palmer is still firmly in his plans, although it's clear that he wants to see more from the forward.
"I think Kasey's got a challenge - his challenge is to keep the shirt and nobody dislikes Kasey Palmer, we signed him because we believe in him, we still do believe in him."
"I thought he was outstanding in the first five or six games and a little bit of that coincided with the duo of Benik Afobe and Kasey Palmer and they struck up a rapport on and off the pitch and then Benik got injured.
"Kasey had a couple of bad performances, didn't do enough, simply or didn't have the right balance around him and I think that it's an important time for Kasey now mentally because he's always had the mothership of Chelsea to call him back and my challenge to him is to not have a repeated pattern where the grass is always greener somewhere else.
"It's now time to, exactly what we said before, dig in and make sure that he comes through because he's a talented individual and he's a player that we're desperate to do well."
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Bristol Live's Gregor MacGregor, believes that Palmer's recent absence from the team may well ultimately be part of a plan by the Robins boss to get the best out of a player that he sees as one of the most gifted at the club.
However, given that it seems to have created something of a rift between the player and Johnson, there are some fears that such an approach could backfire.
"The gauntlet has been laid down by the head coach then, who stopped a little short of saying Palmer is not for sale and who we understand has ruffled the feathers of several senior Bristol City players with his treatment of the talented Palmer of late.
"However, Palmer (deeply affected by good friend Benik Afobe's recent loss and return to Stoke City with injury), in turn, must now resolve to fight his way back into the City set-up, knuckle down, toughen up mentally and physically and make the most of the exquisite talent that he has, after several mixed displays of late, losing possession in bad areas of the pitch but at other times making passes that other players cannot.
Nevertheless, those on the other side of the bridge are currently expecting the player to stay put - unless the relationship between the player and manager sours further.
"No move is imminent and is unlikely to develop unless relationships further deteriorate over the next few weeks, with all parties deciding that a quick and temporary exit suits all.
"But that would be like pastimes for Palmer, who made a permanent switch in the summer, with the hope of putting down roots and kicking on with a settled base, following four different Championship loans (Bristol City, Blackburn, Huddersfield and Derby).
"It has, so far, not worked out like that but Bristol Live fully expects a reconciling and Palmer to appear again in a red shirt soon enough and win back a place in Johnson's team, adding missing verve and creativity to the side - allied to the necessary work-rate and focus demanded."
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