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Swansea City's remaining transfer business has to play by the rules – with Premier League squad sizes likely to affect the last week of Liberty activity in the January window.

Paul Clement is still in the hunt for at least one more new recruit to boost the club's bid to fight off relegation from the top-flight.

There is a possibility, if the right deal comes up, Clement could have two new arrivals to celebrate come the final whistle of the home clash with Southampton, the match that takes place in the final hours of the window.

But the new Swans boss knows he will have to ship out players from his squad if he is to make further additions to the three new faces already landed after splashing out a total of around £12m for midfielder Tom Carroll, full-back Martin Olsson and winger Luciano Narsingh.

It is already known that Newcastle are in talks over a move for wideman Modou Barrow, Swansea willing to listen to offers for a permanent switch to the Toon, or a loan exit with an option at the end of the season.

And it is not being ruled out that Swansea would be open to Sunderland interest in Wales full-back Neil Taylor.

Reasoning behind both deals is said to include a mindfulness of Swansea's need to trim their squad size to within the 25-man Premier League rules.

What are the Premier League squad size rules?

After the transfer window closes, Swansea must submit a 25-man squad list to the Premier League – with only those players named able to feature in league matches from then until the end of the season.

Swansea submitted a squad on September 1 after the summer transfer window, but new players are allowed to play after being signed in January.

The 25-man list does not have to include any players classes as Under-21 – I.e those born after January 1 1995. This means that the likes of Oli McBurnie and Daniel James, both of whom have been included in matchday squads this season, do not have to feature on the 25-man list.

However, all clubs are only permitted to name a maximum of 17 players not considered 'Home Grown'.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

What is a 'Home Grown' player?

'Home Grown' players are those who have spent three seasons with a club in England or Wales before they turned 21. Their nationality is not relevant meaning that Gylfi Sigurdsson – who joined Reading at the age of 16 – qualifies along with English quintet Leon Britton, Jack Cork, Nathan Dyer, Kyle Naughton and Jack Cork as well as Wrexham-product Neil Taylor.

Scottish players do not count as 'Home Grown' and so Jay Fulton and Stephen Kingsley have to come into that maximum of 17.

What is Swansea's current situation?

Swansea named a squad of 24 at the start of September with 16 non 'Home Grown' players. They did not include players out on long-term loan including Franck Tabanou (Granada), Bafetimbi Gomis (Marseille) or Kyle Bartley (Leeds). Neither did it include Kenji Gorre or Marvin Emnes, both of whom have returned from loan spells at Northampton and Blackburn respectively.

Swansea have since signed three players – Carroll, Olsson and Narsingh – meaning they are currently over allowed limits. They will either have to exclude players from the list even if they are still at the club, meaning they would collect wages but only allowed to play Under-23 matches – or they sell, hence the interest in Barrow not being dismissed.

One obvious and immediate option would be to exclude one of the back-up goalkeepers Mark Birighitti or Gerhard Tremmel.

Swansea will also have to be mindful of the 'Home Grown' quota. Tottenham youth product Carroll is classed as 'Home Grown' as is Olsson who, despite being born in Sweden, signed for Blackburn at the age of 16.

Dutchman Gorre, who has lived in the UK from childhood, is also classed as 'Home Grown'. However, Narsingh takes Swansea up to their 17 limit, though this does include both aforementioned reserve keepers.

Can Swansea loan out players after the window?

In a word, no. Loopholes that allowed clubs below Premier League level to continue making loan signings from top-flight sides have been closed. If a player has not moved before the end of the window, they will stay at Swansea.

Furthermore, if there is no room in the Premier League squad, they can only play in Under 23 games.

(Image: Athena Picture Agency Ltd)

The current Swansea City squad ('Home Grown' marked by asterix)

Jordi Amat

Modou Barrow

Mark Birighitti

Leon Britton*

Jack Cork*

Nathan Dyer*

Lukasz Fabianski

Leroy Fer

Federico Fernandez

Jay Fulton

Borja

Ki Sung-Yueng

Stephen Kingsley

Fernando Llorente

Alfie Mawson*

Jefferson Montero

Kyle Naughton*

Kristoffer Nordfeldt

Wayne Routledge*

Gylfi Sigurdsson*

Neil Taylor*

Gerhard Tremmel

Mike van der Horn

Angel Rangel

New signings

Tom Carroll*

Martin Olsson*

Luciano Narsingh