Swansea City must fill 34-g/a void in January after Burnley FC blank | OneFootball

Swansea City are an attacking midfield signing away from being a top Championship side

Swansea City suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday afternoon, and while it was undoubtedly a tough way to finish Championship action before the international break, there are positives to take for Luke Williams.

His Swansea City side have proved rock solid at the back, and had it not been for Jay Rodriguez's controversial late penalty, they would have kept another clean sheet at Turf Moor. Quite incredibly, we're now 17 games into the season in all competitions and Swansea are yet to concede more than one goal in a game.

This shows that they have solid foundations ready to challenge for the play-offs, and Williams deserves huge credit for turning Swansea into a really tough side to beat.

Given the Swans' spending power compared to some of their Championship rivals, they have absolutely no right to be as competitive as they are, but goalscoring remains an issue which may stop them from breaking into the play-offs.

Despite being in the top half of the table, Swansea are the lowest scorers in the division, and it's clear that they're missing a creative attacking midfielder after Jamie Paterson's summer exit.

Swansea City need someone to fill 34-goal void

While Paterson leaving on a free transfer was arguably good business by Swansea given his age and wage demands, they do need someone of a similar mould who can break down defences and chip in with goals.

During his three years in south Wales, Paterson scored 17 goals and registered 17 assists,which included eight goals and six assists last season, and whether you love him or hate him, he was an important player for Swansea last year.

Swansea have tried a number of options in the number 10 role this season with Myles Peart-Harris, Liam Cullen, Ollie Cooper and even Joe Allen being utilised there, but none of them have been able to really make the desired impact, so a signing in that position is important in January.

Williams' side aren't far off being a side capable of reaching the play-offs, and if they can add a creative attacking midfielder to their ranks in January, then there's no reason why they can't.

Someone like Zan Vipotnik could thrive in front of a creative midfielder, and while Swansea are the lowest scorers in the division at the moment, it doesn't feel like it will be the case for much longer.

Swansea's budget means they're highly unlikely to be able to sign an experienced quality Championship number 10, and they'll likely opt for the European market where they've enjoyed recent success, but if they can sign someone who's able to chip in with goals and assists from an advanced role, then the play-offs become a possibility.

The Swans like to dominate the ball, but that often means teams put men behind the ball, and without a creative number 10 it makes it hard to break teams down, and could be a reason why they've failed to score in eight of their 15 league games this season.

Letting Paterson leave on a free transfer was the right call by Swansea, but they failed to replace him, and filling the void of his goals and assists should be a matter of urgency in January.

Swansea City should revisit move for Swedish playmaker

Swansea were linked with a move for IF Sirius attacker Noel Milleskog in the summer, and he's someone who looks as if he could be an excellent addition to Williams' squad.

The 22-year-old is versatile, and is able to play on the wing, as a false 9 and as a number 10, and he could be the player that replaces Paterson's goals and assists.

He's certainly shown he can register goal involvements in the Allsvenskan this season, scoring nine times and registering four assists in 29 league games, as well as two goals in three cup appearances.

Milleskog fits the bill as an ideal Swansea City signing as he's young, talented and is yet to reach his full potential, meaning there's a chance the club could sell him for more money in the future.

While they were linked with him in the summer, it was reported by the Swedish press last month that Swansea were plotting a bid for him in the January transfer window, showing that the club realise they're missing that creative spark.

A move for the 22-year-old could well fill the void that Paterson left in the summer, and if he's able to replicate his form in Sweden with the Swans should a move materialise, then there's no reason why they couldn't have a real go at making the play-offs.