Swansea City

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Luke Williams has challenged Swansea City to "fill the void" left by Matt Grimes when they take on Coventry City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Williams goes into a game without Grimes in his squad for the first time since taking charge at Swansea almost 13 months ago after the midfielder's departure for Coventry.

Grimes, who had been Swansea's captain since 2019, has played in all but four of the club's league games since relegation from the top flight seven years ago.

But with Ben Cabango now wearing the armband, Williams says his squad must quickly get used to life without Grimes' reliable presence in midfield.

"Tough moments are opportunities or they are threats," the Swansea head coach said.

"Certain people in life see moments as threats and react like a victim. Other people see opportunities and react like a warrior, where this a moment to do something good.

"We need the warriors to step up now and fill the void."

Swansea are hunting midfield reinforcements ahead of Monday night's transfer deadline, with the club known to be looking at the Premier League loan market.

They are also believed to have shown interest in Peterborough United captain Hector Kyprianou and are understood to have at least one more target in League One.

As far as the Coventry game is concerned, Jay Fulton looks the most likely option to replace Grimes - who will not feature for Coventry because his move was not completed before the registration deadline - given that Joe Allen missed last weekend's defeat at Norwich City through injury.

Ollie Cooper has returned to training having been out since October thanks to a stress fracture in his foot, though Williams has suggested he needs some time to build his fitness.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Swansea City are one of a number of Championship clubs interested in a loan move for Southampton winger Sam Amo-Ameyaw, who is believed to have watched Luke Williams' team in action at Norwich City last weekend.

Swansea were keen on a loan deal for Amo-Ameyaw last summer but he ended up staying with the Saints.

But there are suggestions the 18-year-old will be allowed to move before Monday's transfer deadline - and Swansea are in the mix for his signature.

Cardiff City are among the other clubs being linked with a move for Amo-Ameyaw, who scored his only senior goal in Southampton's League Cup win against the Bluebirds last August.

England Under-19 international Amo-Ameyaw has made only four Southampton appearances this season having played seven times under then boss Russell Martin last term.

Swansea head coach Luke Williams has been trying to sign a wide player throughout the January window.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Getty Images

Swansea City are interested in Peterborough United midfielder Hector Kyprianou.

Swansea have been looking to bolster their midfield throughout January, with their need for new faces increasing dramatically after it emerged that Matt Grimes will be leaving for Coventry City.

The Swans are known to be targeting the Premier League loan market as they look to replace Grimes, but Peterborough captain Kyprianou is also on their list of potential recruits.

The Cyprus international, 23, has made 22 appearances this season, scoring two goals, since being named Posh skipper last summer.

In all he has scored 13 goals in 122 games for Peterborough since joining the League One club from Leyton Orient in 2022.

With Kyprianou's contract up this summer, Peterborough – who are 18th in the third tier - may be tempted to sell him before Monday's transfer deadline.

London-born Kyprianou made 78 senior appearances for Orient after coming through the London club's youth ranks.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Getty Images

Matt Grimes has played in all but four of Swansea City's 305 league games since relegation from the top flight in 2018.

There can be no clearer measure of the midfielder's consistency, his technical ability and his durability than that extraordinary record.

Luke Williams, Swansea's head coach for almost 13 months, is yet to take charge of a match – in league or cup - in which Grimes has not featured.

But that statistic looks like being wiped out this Saturday when Williams' team play Coventry City, the club who have shocked Swansea by making a serious move to sign their club captain.

Whether a transfer is finalised before the weekend or not, it seems unlikely Grimes will be involved against the side who are trying to recruit him.

Coventry are only four points and five places better off than Swansea in the Championship table.

A month ago, Swansea were ninth, six places above the Sky Blues and with five more points. In other words, there has not been much between the clubs on the pitch this season.

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

But finances are so often critical in football, and the understanding is that Coventry are prepared to give Grimes, who will turn 30 this summer, the sort of contract which Swansea would not go close to matching.

And that says much about what Williams and his staff are up against in the Championship, where it is not only clubs at the very top end of the division who have much more financial clout than Swansea.

Wages may not be the only factor involved in Grimes' potential move, of course. It could also be that he sees Coventry as a better bet to push for the Premier League than Swansea, who have not looked like contenders for promotion since defeat by Brentford in the Championship play-off final in 2021.

Grimes played in that game, which almost goes without saying.

He has been a stalwart since Swansea dropped out of the Premier League, a shoo-in for selection under Graham Potter, Steve Cooper, Russell Martin, Michael Duff and Williams.

Grimes' blend of qualities means that should - as appears likely - the move to Coventry materialise, he will leave a mighty hole in a Swansea squad which already has numerous issues.

The only hope for the club's fans – and for Williams – is that Swansea's hierarchy will fill some of the gaps before the transfer window closes next Monday night.