Guidolin excited by ‘important’ arrival of Paloschi

Rob Conlon
Alberto Paloschi: Signed for Swansea

Alberto Paloschi: Signed for Swansea

Francesco Guidolin expects imminent Swansea signing Alberto Paloschi to impress in the Premier League once his transfer from Chievo is completed.

The transfer fee has been finalised between the two clubs and Paloschi has agreed personal terms with Swansea.

Guidolin says Paloschi, a former Italy Under-21 international, will complete the move when he passes a medical.

“He is coming and I hope he will score many goals,” Guidolin said.

“He was my player when we worked together at Parma and he will be important for us.”

Paloschi won 29 caps at U21 level and started his career at AC Milan before moving onto Parma.

The 26-year-old had a loan spell at Genoa before joining Chievo in 2011, where he has since scored 42 goals in 144 Serie A appearances.

Swansea had made the signing of a striker their top priority in the January transfer window, with only bottom club Aston Villa having scored fewer goals in the Barclays Premier League.

“He is a good player and a good guy and he will help the team get better results,” Guidolin said.

“I asked Huw (Jenkins, Swansea chairman) to sign him for me. He said it was a possibility and I like him as a player.

“I think he is a modern player, he can play well in the Premier League because he is strong and links well.”

Paloschi’s impending arrival in south Wales puts question marks against the Swansea future of Bafetimbi Gomis, who has struggled for game-time in the last two months.

Gomis has been linked with a January move to Newcastle, but Guidolin said the France forward still had a role to play at Swansea.

“There are a few days of the window left and Gomis is our player at the moment,” Guidolin said.

“I think he is a player who is important for us and right now he is my player.”

Guidolin also insisted that Andre Ayew would not be leaving the Liberty Stadium despite speculation linking him with a cash-plus-player move to Sunderland.

It is understood Sunderland offered £10million plus Fabio Borini, the former Swansea striker, for the Ghana international who joined the Welsh club on a free transfer from Marseille last summer.

Ayew is Swansea’s top scorer this season with eight goals and netted the winner in Guidolin’s first game in charge, the 2-1 victory at Everton last Sunday.

“Yes, he will be a Swansea player,” Guidolin said.

“He is important for us, he is a good player. He is too important for our team (to leave).”