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Francesco Guidolin has revealed the details of talks with chairman Huw Jenkins that will spark the start of summer rebuilding at Swansea City.

The Italian confirmed he has held discussions with the Liberty chief over plans for next season within hours of accepting a two-year deal to stay on in South Wales.

And the former Udinese boss says he has already outlined the type of players he feels are needed at the club if they are to improve on this year which Jenkins admitted on Wednesday has been their most difficult in the Premier League.

However, in his first in-depth interview since landing the long-term remit to lead the Swans, Guidolin added:

* He is happy to let Jenkins and the club’s recruitment team identify the players to bring in over the close-season, how many they land and their cost;

* That he believes he already has the makings of a good team and squad as he hinted against massive post-campaign overhaul;

* He wants to ditch the diamond as a standard Swansea set-up after revealing his preferred plans for the side will include wingers;

* He wants the club to keep hold of key man Gylfi Sigurdsson, although is bracing himself for interest in the recently named club player of the year;

* How there could be a permanent deal for midfielder Leroy Fer.

(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

* And while he is keen to improve Swansea as he builds from a clean slate, he stressed that the club’s priority will remain getting to 40 points next season.

Guidolin had become exasperated with questions over his future in the build-up to Wednesday’s meeting that rubber stamped the decision to give the 60-year-old the chance to continue in the role he has had since his shock arrival in January.

But he accepted that the questions of the future now take a different turn with plans already in full-swing over the new campaign with supporters keen to see the side avoid the struggles of this season.

While victory over Manchester City this weekend – coupled with Stoke failing to win against Europe-chasers West Ham – can earn a top-half finish, there are still issues to address when the dust settles on the campaign with a feeling fresh blood is needed in the Liberty dressing room.

It is something Guidolin agrees with, but seemed to echo the comments of chairman Jenkins in the statement on the manager’s new deal that suggested there was a basis of a good squad already there for the Serie A veteran to work with.

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Still, Guidolin confirmed he has held talks with Jenkins over summer recruitment and claimed he was comfortable with letting the club’s scouting system to identify and sign the players once he had provided his thoughts.

“I have spoken about this with the chairman but the decision for players in my career has always been with the club,” said Guidolin. “I spoke with the chairman about my favourite shape and I spoke with him about the characteristics of new players we want.

Preview: Swansea City v Man City

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“I have told him which areas and positions I think we need, although I do not know how many we need. Our chairman knows better than I our situation. I have only been here four months and he is an expert and the chairman.

“Our chairman knows what I need and I think is best for our team. I have spoken to him about a type of player and we can compare individuals as examples to say what I like and don’t like.

“I can say that only the characteristics of the players and the decision is with the club. I can’t say I want this player or another player, I have spoken about characteristics.

“There is a relationship with the chairman. I can say something and the chairman can have another opinion, but there is a good communication between me and my chairman and we understand each other.”

The plan is in keeping with Swansea’s long-term recruitment strategy where the club’s hierarchy are heavily involved in identifying players to suit the club’s philosophy and then presented to the manager, although no players are signed against a manager’s will. Guidolin said he is comfortable with this arrangement and says it is down to the chairman with regards to budget, one that remains to be seen whether it will be boosted as takeover talks and a proposed increase in transfer spending progress.

Also read:Francesco Guidolin 'comfortable' with Swansea City speaking to Brendan Rodgers before reappointment

Guidolin shied away from naming which positions he wants prioritised, although many will accept that a reliable goalscorer and frontline striker should be top of the Swans’ shopping list.

Guidolin on Manchester City:

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Yet Guidolin hinted he would not demand huge additions, adding: “In general I think it’s a good idea to change some players every summer, but it does not have to be true every time. What I think about our team is that we have a good team, this is a good team and I saw that early on when I came here. When I watched the first-half against Everton I saw qualities in my players – the first-half was perfect. It’s important to change things but also remember that our team is a good team. If a good team is focused and concentrated it’s important and normally it will be a good season.”

Guidolin has also told Jenkins his preferred set-up for next season will be Swansea’s traditional 4-2-3-1, bringing back the width that has reaped rewards in recent weeks with a series of results that have helped Swansea to a comfortable campaign finish.

It means a move away from the diamond often used by Guidolin in his attempts to avoid a struggle for survival, although he added it would not be overlooked completely.

“My favourite shape is 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 with two wingers and I have told the chairman this,” he said. “But it is important for a manager and players to know many shapes and systems because it is important to be able to change.”

Gylfi Sigurdsson, who picked up both the supporters’ and players’ player of the year award on Wednesday night, will be seen as key to such a set-up, although his performances this season will see speculation over his future undoubtedly arise over the summer.

(Image: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Sigurdsson, 26, is set to star for Iceland at Euro 2016 and has been given an early break from his club in order to rest up for France, and asked if he wants the No.10 to stay Guidolin said: “I hope, I hope, I hope because he is an important player. I am sure there will be other teams who will be interested in Gylfi, but I don’t know what happens. I have a good relationship with Gylfi.”

Guidolin could offer the chance for Fer to turn his loan stay from QPR into a permanent one, adding: “Leroy has been a good surprise. All players are new players for me. I didn’t know him before but he has helped the team in the last part of the season, he is a good player and it is possible he stays here. He is an option. I don’t know if he wants to stay, I think so, but he could be a good option to stay.”

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And of his targets for a first full season in charge, the experienced boss added: “It is important that we don’t lose our dimension, our identity, and I hope to have the team playing well, playing good football with good results. This season could be a lesson for our future because Swansea in the last ten years, every year has improved. It is not easy to always do that in football. It is important to have a season that is complicated sometimes to understand and learn new things.

“But it is a new challenge. I won my first was to have my club know me, but now begins another moment, another important time and another challenge and I hope to do well.

“The priority now is to finish well against Manchester City, but then next year for 40 points and the possibility to play well. I am confident of this, with a good team, good platers and an importance not to lose our identity.”