Get the latest Swans news sent straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Carlos Carvalhal has revealed Nicolas Gaitan and Kevin Gameiro both refused to move to Swansea City in January over concerns about the club's plight despite the fact deals to bring the pair to South Wales from Atletico Madrid had been agreed.

The Swans were rooted to the foot of the Premier League table when Carlos Carvalhal took charge following the sacking of Paul Clement in December.

He guided his side to a dramatic 2-1 win over Watford at Vicarage Road in his first match at the helm before overseeing the Swans claim seven points from their clashes with Newcastle United, Liverpool and Arsenal in the New Year.

The Portuguese was determined to bring in additional recruits during the window to bolster his side's survival hopes and had agreed terms with La Liga outfit Atletico over swoops for Gaitan and Gameiro.

But Carvalhal - who left the Liberty Stadium following the club's relegation from the Premier League in May - has revealed the pair both refused to make the move to South Wales due to the club's precarious position in the table, adding that he had the full backing off the club's hierarchy to strengthen his squad in January.

"We stayed unbeaten for 10 games. In those games we beat Arsenal and Liverpool, we scored four against West Ham, we also beat Burnley so we had a very good run," Carvalhal told The Football Ramble.

"But something happened in the middle, so let's try to collect the pieces.

"We tried to achieve players in the January transfer window

"Nobody would come to Swansea. We were in last position.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

"I can tell you now, we agreed with Atletico Madrid to bring in Gaitan and Gameiro. Gaitan is a national team player for Argentina, Gameiro is a French international.

"We agreed about these players and afterwards they didn't want to come. It wasn't about money.

"I had the support of the chairman and the American investors to try and bring in players.

"But they didn't want to come because we were in the last position and they were afraid about having a relegation on their CV so they refused to come."

Swansea re-signed striker Andre Ayew on transfer deadline day from West Ham while they also brought in Wales international Andy King on loan from Leicester City.

But after beating Burnley 1-0 on February 10, they won just one of their last 11 league outings and saw their seven-year stay in the top flight come to an end.

Following the club's relegation, Swansea have sold a number of key stars including the likes of Alfie Mawson and Lukasz Fabianski, while Graham Potter has had to put his faith in a number of youngsters.

Potter has added Cameron Carter-Vickers, Yan Dhanda, Joel Asoro, Barrie McKay, Bersant Celina, Declan John and Jordi Govea to his ranks this summer and has until Friday to add any loan signings to his squad.

The Football Ramble interview with Carvalhal is available in full here.