Why Julien Ponceau could be a good long-term signing for Swansea City
According to reports in France (h/t Wales Online), Swansea City are interested in Julien Ponceau, who currently plies his trade with FC Lorient in Ligue 2.
Spanish giants Sevilla, Dutch Eredisivie outfit Willem II and Swiss heavyweights Basel are also keeping tabs on the highly-rated 19-year-old, who had been linked with a move to Inter Milan last year. (h/t Wales Online)
Ponceau, who has already been capped by France at U-18, U-19 and U-20 levels, is widely regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the French second-tier.
Born in Angola to an Angolan mother and a French father, Julien Ponceau migrated to France at a young age and started his footballing education at lower division clubs US Saint-Evarzec and US Concarnoise before joining the widely-revered youth academy of FC Lorient in 2015.
The 19-year-old, who signed his first professional contract in February 2018, made his senior debut against Valenciennes last year and went on to clock up as many as 24 appearances across all competitions for Lorient last season, registering 2 goals and 2 assists in the process.
Despite enjoying an impressive breakthrough season last term, Ponceau has found regular minutes hard to come by at Lorient in the ongoing campaign. The teenager has only featured once in Ligue 1, while spending most of the time with the club’s reserve team in the Championnat National.
The Swans, meanwhile, grabbed the headlines with a loan deal for Rhian Brewster from Liverpool earlier in the week and they have now secured the services of highly-rated Ivorian centre-back Mar Guehi from Chelsea on an 18-month loan deal.
Swansea are one of the favourites for a top-six berth under the charismatic stewardship of Steve Cooper.
While securing promotion remains a top priority, the Swans seem to be operating under a long-term strategy under Cooper, who has already worked wonders with some fine young talents at the Liberty Stadium this season.
To that end, Julien Ponceau would be yet another exciting addition to the existing pool of burgeoning young talents in South Wales.
The French U-20 international might not fit the bill as an immediate game-changer to aid the club’s promotion surge but his talent and potential would certainly make him an excellent long-term signing for the Swans.
Verdict
Youngsters like Sam Surridge, Ben Wilmot, Ben Cabango, Bersant Celina and Joe Rodon have shown a massive improvement under Cooper’s guidance. The manager’s proficiency in nurturing up and coming prospects might go a long way towards extracting the best out of a promising starlet like Ponceau.
That he is already rubbing shoulders with the seniors at 19 is clearly indicative of a level of maturity that belies his tender years, while Ponceau’s status as a French U-20 international and his links with clubs like Sevilla and Inter Milan suggest that he is a star in the making.
The likes of Riyad Mahrez, Said Benrahma, N’Golo Kante and Matteo Guendouzi all graced the French second-tier before establishing themselves in English football and Ponceau could be the next to follow in the footsteps of some of the biggest names in the footballing world.
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All in all, Swansea City could land themselves a gem for the future with a move for Lorient prodigy Julien Ponceau.