Will Luka Modric & Snoop Dogg be celebrating? Swansea legend Lee Trundle explains why shrewd appointments & smart transfer business can deliver Premier League return

The prospect of Luka Modric and Snoop Dogg celebrating a Premier League return for Swansea City in May 2027 may seem audacious, but according to Swansea legend Lee Trundle, a combination of shrewd managerial appointments and smart transfer business could make the dream achievable. With ambitious plans being drawn up in South Wales and Swansea headed down a similar path to geographical rivals Wrexham, the Swans believe they possess a blueprint for a swift return to the top flight. The club tumbled into the Championship back in 2018, but with fresh ownership and a unified fanbase, there is genuine optimism that the journey back can be navigated.

New Ownership Brings Fresh Ambition

The involvement of high-profile figures has fundamentally transformed the mood at the club. With A-list investors watching on from afar, the owners—including Modric and Snoop Dogg, alongside other stakeholders—have made their intentions abundantly clear. According to Trundle, these new custodians of the club are "unbelievable" and "want to push the club forward as well." Crucially, the owners are "involved on a day-to-day basis," bringing a level of engagement and ambition that has reinvigorated the institution in ways not seen before.

The appointment of manager Vitor Matos has also played a central role in transforming the internal culture. Trundle noted that Matos "has been brilliant around the place" and emphasized the impact on the fanbase, stating that "this is the first time that we've had a fan base that have not been split." Previously, according to Trundle, "it's probably been 50-50 when I'm out and about in the city and I hear people talk," but crucially "with the gaffer now everyone's behind him." This unified backing represents a significant shift in the club's fortunes.

A Measured Approach to Recruitment

Perhaps most tellingly, Swansea's approach to recruitment has changed markedly from previous campaigns. Rather than pursuing a scattergun strategy of quantity, the club has become more surgical and deliberate in its planning. Reflecting on this shift, Trundle explained: "Even though they're probably not household names and a lot of people in football wouldn't know them, we've done well with them over the years to unearth them players."

The restraint shown in this transfer window underscores a new sophistication in how the club conducts its business. "What I like that we've done this season, we haven't gone out and bought eight or nine players to pad the squad out," said Trundle. "We're looking at bringing someone in for 6 million, someone in for 5 million, where we haven't done that before." This measured approach contrasts sharply with previous windows, suggesting a structural shift in the club's thinking about how to build a competitive squad.

Building on Seven Years of Premier League Experience

Swansea's confidence is not born from naivety or wishful thinking. The club has tasted Premier League success in recent years, and that tangible experience provides a roadmap for what is achievable. "We went to the Premier League and everyone probably thought it was going to be a one-season wonder and we managed to stay in there for seven years," Trundle reflected, pointing to that period as evidence of the club's capabilities.

That seven-year spell in the Premier League was marked by genuine achievement and European football. Swansea won the League Cup in 2013 and progressed to the Europa League, where they competed against elite opponents from across the continent. "To be playing teams like Valencia and Napoli, it was surreal to see where the club had gone to," Trundle said. "So we have tasted that in recent years and that's where the club want to get back to."

The Challenge Ahead

Swansea finished four places and seven points behind Wrexham last season, with both sides missing out on the play-off lottery. However, this term presents a new opportunity in the Championship. Two extra spots are now available, with the top eight pushing for promotion, which materially improves the odds for ambitious clubs.

The season begins with a test away at Stoke on Saturday. A first derby of 2026-27 against Wrexham will follow at the Swansea.com Stadium on September 5. Recent disappointment came in the Carabao Cup, a competition Swansea won back in 2013, with a narrow 1-0 first-round defeat at the hands of Tom Brady's Birmingham.

With ownership committed to the project, a unified fanbase rallying behind the manager, smart recruitment underway, and recent history to draw upon, Modric and Snoop Dogg may indeed have reason to celebrate by the end of the campaign—if Trundle's faith in the club's direction proves justified.