Swansea are serious shouts for top six despite 20/1 price

“Outside of those bigger clubs, [the Europa League] does affect the league form. I am always pushing to win and finish as high as possible. If that takes us to somewhere else, so be it.”

“The most important bit – and it will always be the most important to us – is the league, especially with next season being such an important season because of the revenue at the end of that season with the TV money going up.”

In their remaining Premier League games, the Swans face Manchester City and former favourite Bony, whose new side are assured of Champions League football, before battling mid-table team Crystal Palace, unlikely to better their current position of 12th.

Contrast Swansea’s superb form of 16 points from a possible 21 with that of Tottenham (eight from the same on offer) and Southampton (averaging a point per game in their last seven), who are both stuttering towards the finish line, and that 20/1 price is looking much more appealing.

Seventh may be enough for a Europa League place, if Arsenal beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup final following a UEFA rule change regarding spots in continental competitions for domestic trophy runners-up.

Ronald Koeman’s Saints are certainly catchable for the Swans after one win in six, while Spurs must face relegation-threatened Hull City next in a game that may mean more to Steve Bruce’s Tigers and their contingent of former White Hart Lane favourites.

Monk’s men can capitalise on their more lauded rivals’ downturns during the run-in, and getting Europa League action for next season would certainly help the Welsh club have some pulling power in a cut-throat transfer window with adding options in attack a clear priority.