London: Michael Laudrup has insisted Michu will stay with Swansea during the January transfer window after the Spanish striker put his side in sight of a place in the English League Cup final.
Swansea manager Laudrup described the forward as the “bargain of the season” following a 2-0 win away to European champions Chelsea in the first leg of their semi-final tie — the Welsh club’s first victory at Stamford Bridge since 1925.
Michu, signed for just £2 million (Dh11.78 million) from La Liga side Rayo Vallecano, scored his 16th goal in 25 appearances this season to give Swansea a 39th-minute lead in west London on Wednesday.
His goal tally has made Michu a coveted target, but Laudrup reckoned the 26-year-old’s recent form had put him out of reach of all but Europe’s wealthiest clubs.
“We all know the situation, the economic situation in the world, so there really aren’t that many clubs who can buy him,” Denmark great Laudrup said.
“There are some here in England. In Spain there are only two. Italy, I don’t think so,” he added. “They’re trying to sell. Bayern Munich in Germany... so only a few, few clubs.
“And 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 don’t know in the summer.
“I don’t know how much he’s worth. Ask my chairman. He was the bargain of the season, we know that. But we’re happy we’ve found the right players.”
Turning to Michu’s tally, Laudrup said: “What he is doing, in terms of goals, is incredible, particularly when you think he’s never been a No 9 [striker].
“He’s always been a midfielder coming from deeper. But one chance, one goal today. That’s incredible. You’d pay a lot of money for that.”
Victory moved Swansea, who face Chelsea in the return leg at their Liberty Stadium home on January 23, closer to a first major cup final appearance.
But Laudrup refused to accept his side were favourites to go through and play either fourth-tier Bradford or Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
“We’re not there yet,” he said. “We’re still very far. We will need a great, great performance like the one today.
“We have a realistic possibility, but there’s still a mountain to climb,” he said with an unlikely final against Bradford looming after the Bantams’ 3-1 first leg win over Villa on Tuesday
And asked who were the favourites in both semi-final ties, Laudrup replied: “Aston Villa and Chelsea, still. I hope Bradford play Swansea.”
Mistakes from Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic allowed Michu and Danny Graham to clinch victory and inflict a second successive home defeat on Chelsea.
