Zan Vipotnik interest 'normal' says Swans boss as striker reveals ambition

Having scored 21 goals in the Championship this season, Vipotnik is the league’s leading goalscorer in a side sitting in 14th position and the play-offs out of slight.

And the 24-year-old Slovenian’s campaign has not gone unnoticed, with top European clubs rumoured to be interested in signing him.

Portuguese reports have suggested that Champions League quarter-finalists Sporting CP and Jose Mourinho’s Benfica are among the clubs interested in Vipotnik, with other rival outfits also being rumoured to be monitoring the Swansea striker.

But the links have not worried the Swansea head coach, who feels the transfer rumours are just a result of having quality in the squad.

"He's a good player scoring goals so I believe there's interest of other clubs, that's normal," said Swansea head coach Matos.

"[But there is] nothing new from our side, there was no-one coming here asking something, so we just keep training.

"He's training well. That's the most important thing, that he keeps doing that, focuses on the season, focuses on what he can improve, focuses on trying to help the team to fulfil our goals and our next goal is to beat Southampton."

Vipotnik himself says the aim remains to play in the Premier League.

"That's my goal," he said as quoted by the BBC. "I would like to play one day in the Premier League, [whether that is] with Swansea or with another club, God will decide."

Vipotnik signed fresh terms with the club earlier last month, meaning Swansea's hand is strong when it comes to bargaining terms, if a move away were to gather pace. He is now tied to the club until 2030, meaning a substantial fee would be needed to prise him away from south Wales.

"The club recognised my work and also I recognised the project," he said.

"I am happy here, my family is happy here, I like the club, I like the staff, so it was not a tough decision."

The striker added he would look at the situation again in the summer.

"I am happy here but we will see in the summer what will happen," he said. "But I am happy here, my family is happy."

Matos also dismissed any chance of Chelsea youngster Jimmy-Jay Morgan coming to south Wales next season, stating that the links were “nothing, just rumours” when quizzed.

Vipotnik arrived in Landore in the summer of 2024 from Ligue 1 side Bordeaux, not quite hitting the ground running, as he netted just seven goals in his first campaign in the Championship.

But despite links away from the club in the summer of 2025, Vipotnik stayed and has proven this season to be one of the best strikers in the division, and he feels the play-offs should be the target for next season.

Vipotnik will need to be at his clinical best this weekend if the Swans are to get a result against a Southampton side that are chasing down the automatic promotion places.

Having won their last seven games in all competitions, including a 2-1 victory against Arsenal in the FA Cup, the Saints now sit in fourth place, just three points behind Ipswich Town in second.

“At the moment, Southampton are the best team in the league, really good squad, they rotate five or six players, but they keep the same performance,” Matos said.