Swansea Open Talks with South Korean Ace Previously Linked with Arsenal

Swansea City are believed to have opened talks with Scottish champions Celtic over the proposed signing of central midfielder Ki Sung-yeung.

Sky Sports has reported that the Welsh side are hoping that Celtic will be prepared to do business as they look to find a replacement for recently departed midfielder Joe Allen.

The Swans showed few signs of missing Allen at the weekend as they demolished Queens Park Rangers 5-0 at Loftus Road, however, it seems manager Michael Laudrup is keen to bolster his options in midfield.

Ki has been linked with numerous Premier League clubs over the summer months, with Arsenal said to have shown an interest in the midfielder before Arsene Wenger managed to complete a deal for Santi Cazorla.

QPR have also been linked with the South Korea international, but it seems as though Swansea are now the front runners to land the Celtic midfielder.

The report on Sky Sports suggests that Celtic will be willing to allow Ki to leave for the right price and, with the talks being at an advanced stage, it seems the possibility of the midfielder playing in the Premier League this season has become more likely.

Swansea certainly have funds available for the transfer having received in the region of £15million from Liverpool for Allen.

Ki would certainly bring plenty of international experience having played some 47 times for South Korea despite his young age.

He has also played a pivotal role for Celtic in the last two seasons as he has helped them win the Scottish Cup in 2011, before last season playing 30 league games as Neil Lennon's side beat Rangers to the SPL title.

Laurdrup would also have had the opportunity to watch Ki in recent weeks as he played for South Korea at the Olympics in London, scoring the winning penalty in the quarter-final against England, that helped the country win a bronze medal.