Swansea City missed out on deal for Cardiff City player who has haunted them - But they may not have serious transfer regret | OneFootball

Ollie Tanner loves to turn up for the South Wales derby for Cardiff City, but it could have been so much different if Swansea had got their man

If scoring goals in their most important derby helps build popularity at a club, then Ollie Tanner has that in spades for Cardiff City.

The former Lewes winger always saved his best performances for the South Wales Derby against Swansea City. Tanner scored his first Cardiff goal against their bitter rivals and set up goals in both their meetings in the 2024/25 campaign.

However, things could have been completely different if Tanner had rejected the advancement of Cardiff whilst he was playing in the Isthmian Premier Division and signed down the road at Swansea, instead.

Because that could have been a big possibility, as Swansea were one of the Championship sides floating around in the hope of signing the wideman, before he decided to become a Bluebird in May 2022.

Although, despite always bringing his A-game in the South Wales Derby, the way Tanner's career has panned out so far probably has Swansea fans thinking that they dodged a bullet by missing out on signing the then-20-year-old talent in 2022.

Swansea City nearly signed Ollie Tanner, and the winger's best performances since have come against the Swans

Speaking to The Central Club podcast about his jump from semi-professional side Lewes back to the professional game, former Arsenal academy man Tanner discussed the teams who were interested in bringing him in.

"There were a few Prem teams, but it would have been the same as the Tottenham thing [a club he rejected in January 2022], and I would have been with the under-23s," he said.

"There were a few Championship clubs floating around too, Swansea were in for me and tried to do a late deal, but it was Cardiff."

And Tanner has shown his worth to Cardiff fans with some stellar performances in the South Wales Derby, as the Bluebirds recently turned the tide on what was starting to become a rather one-sided affair when the two sides met.

Tanner's first goal for the club in September 2023 was the first in a 2-0 win, which not only put an end to four straight defeats in the derby but also gave them their first home win over Swansea in a decade.

He also set up goals in each of the meetings in the 2024/25 campaign, including the late equaliser from the bench at the Swansea.com Stadium in August.

Playing Swansea just seems to get the best out of the 23-year-old, and Swans fans must hate seeing him on the opposing team sheet, especially given that it could have been their side who he was lining up for.

Ollie Tanner's performances outside of the South Wales Derby may ease Swansea pains

Although part of the frustration among Swansea fans at Ollie Tanner's incredible derby outings is likely formed by the fact that he doesn't seem to provide this much of a threat against anyone else.

Tanner has contributed just four goals and four assists in 73 Cardiff games since his arrival from Lewes, and three of those goal contributions have come in the South Wales Derby.

Injuries have meant that the winger hasn't been able to put his stamp on the Cardiff squad, and other than a period in October-November 2024 where he started 10 straight league games, he's yet to rack up more than three straight league starts during his time in the Welsh capital.

Cardiff fans may not mind as long as he turns up in their biggest game of the season, but now with the Bluebirds in League One, eyes will be on Tanner to up his game so South Wales Derbies can continue in the 2026/27 campaign.

As for Swansea City, they'll be frustrated at his derby excellence, but not wholly fussed that they failed to bring him to their club at the end of the 2021/22 season.