Swansea City head coach Vitor Matos has confirmed winger Zeidane Inoussa is training with the squad after a deadline-day loan switch to Portsmouth collapsed. The news leaves the £5m signing's immediate future uncertain as the club prepares for its next Championship fixture.
Matos addressed the situation directly. "They will be back in training," the Swansea boss said of Inoussa and fellow winger Ronald, whose proposed move to Millwall also failed. "They are part of the team until something happens. If it happens." The Portuguese coach acknowledged he is still hoping to move players on before other European transfer windows close.
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho had sought to bolster his wide options and a loan deal for Zeidane Inoussa was agreed between the two clubs on the final day of the transfer window. However, the move fell through before the deadline passed, leaving the 22-year-old Sweden youth international in South Wales. This follows a difficult first season for Inoussa at Swansea, where a back fracture suffered in the second half of the campaign limited him to 29 appearances, yielding one goal and two assists.
The failed transfer was part of a busy end to the window for Swansea, who did manage to finalise an exit for another winger. Florian Bianchini, the 25-year-old former Portsmouth loanee who made 11 goalless appearances before a knee injury ended his season, was left out of Swansea's pre-season camp and has joined French Ligue 2 side Clermont on a season-long loan.
Zeidane Inoussa now returns to a Swansea City squad that has started the season in imperious form. The Swans sit first in the Championship with 10 points from four games, claiming a recent form of WWDW. They have scored seven goals while conceding just one, giving them a commanding +6 goal difference at this early stage.
His place in the pecking order will be assessed by Matos ahead of a challenging away trip to face Southampton on September 8th. The manager's comments suggest the door is not completely closed on a late move to a league where the window remains open, but for now, Inoussa is available for selection. The full schedule for this promising start can be viewed in our fixtures list.
The collapse of the Inoussa deal, along with Millwall's failed £2m bid for Ronald, means Swansea retains two wingers they were open to moving on. This could impact squad balance and financial planning as the club handles the final stages of the European market. Matos was pragmatic about the situation, stating he is "still not able to control the world market" and that "there are still a few open windows."
For now, the focus shifts entirely to on-pitch matters. The team's strong defensive record, with only one goal conceded, will be tested by Southampton. The senior squad list, including Inoussa, is available on our squad page. Swansea City's next match is away at St Mary's Stadium on Tuesday, September 8th.
