Swansea City set to sign Southampton star midfielder Jack Cork

Premier League top four chances Southampton (11/8) look set to offload midfielder Jack Cork, who is out of contract at the end of the season, to Swansea City for a reduced fee. This is despite boss Ronald Koeman suggesting earlier this month that the south coast side had offered him a new deal.

The former Chelsea youth player, 25, is the son of 1988 FA Cup winner with Wimbledon’s ‘crazy gang’ and ex-Swans boss Alan Cork, and it seems Garry Monk could be getting a real coup if a deal can be struck.

Cork has made 15 appearances in all competitions this season, and has been a big part of the Saints’ success over the past couple of seasons, but an ankle injury has kept him out for much of the winter.

However, do Swansea really need another player of Cork’s position?

In the midfield role, Monk currently has the likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Ki Sung-Yueng, Leon Britton and Gylfi Sigurdsson, who are all under contract at the Liberty Stadium until at least 2017, as well as Tottenham loanee Tom Carroll and new recruit teenager Matt Grimes.

Cork has been a long-term target for Swansea, with then-manager Brendan Rodgers reportedly keen on taking him to Wales, but what the Swans really need is more attacking options.

They have just lost Ivory Coast star Wilfried Bony to Manchester City for a hefty sum, and Bafetimbi Gomis, who has been linked with West Ham United for £8m, has stated his desire to leave after falling out with Monk.

That leaves just Marvin Emnes and Nelson Oliveira, on loan from Benfica, as attacking options, with neither prolific in front of goal. Michu, meanwhile, is still at Napoli and Monk has made no mention that the Spain cap could return from his unsuccessful temporary spell so far in Italy.

If Cork were to join Swansea (6/1 chances for victory), though, it is unlikely he would be registered in time to face his possible former side Southampton (odds-on 8/15 favourites) in their next Premier League match at St Mary’s on Sunday February 1st. However, if a deal doesn’t go through, Cork, who has scored against Newcastle United and Sunderland in the top flight this term, is a 7/1 chance to net anytime against the Swans.