Laudrup: Rivals cannot afford Michu

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has ruled out letting Michu go for the simple reason that few clubs can afford him.

After taking his tally for the season to 16 across all competitions with his goal against Chelsea in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final tie at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, Laudrup once again had to fend off questions regarding the midfielder’s future.

Nevertheless, the Dane is confident of keeping hold of his most-prized asset for not only the remainder of January, but the entire season, because his value has skyrocketed to such an extent that he is no longer in many teams’ price range

“We all know the economic situation in the world, so there really aren’t that many clubs who can buy him,” he told reporters.

“There are some here, in Spain there are only two teams (Barcelona and Real Madrid)… Italy, I don’t think so, they’re trying to sell… Bayern Munich in Germany… so only a few, few clubs.”

Swansea do face a fight on their hands to keep hold of the 26-year-old in the summer, though, something the Danish boss remains acutely aware of, even if the player appears happy at the moment with his surroundings.

He added: “Michu likes it here. He’s happy where he is.

“So I’m really not afraid because I’m so sure he will stay with us for the next five or six months. I just don’t know in the summer.”