Swansea City make transfer decision on Liam Cullen as Luke Williams lays out fresh incentive

Luke Williams has confirmed that Swansea City have triggered the option to keep Liam Cullen at the club for another 12 months, and has challenged the forward to prove he's worth a new long-term deal.

The striker's current contract was due to run out this summer, but is now set to stay with the club until next summer at least.

The Wales international has scored seven goals and registered four further assists this season, and made his 100th appearance for the club earlier this term.

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Williams has been impressed by the Welshman's contribution, and has confirmed the striker has now been tied down for another 12 months.

“We have triggered his option,” he said. “We are talking a bit with Culls and we always had this option there, so we went down that path.

“I am happy with a lot of the things I am seeing from Culls. The commitment and running for the team has been incredible, but there is intelligence with that too, he’s not running around like a headless chicken, he’s making good decisions.

“I know he can score goals and I want him to be even more ruthless, because I believe in him and he is such a valuable member of the squad. He understands a lot of things that could take a player a long time to understand, both about the club and how I want the players to perform. He has earned the right for that option to be triggered."

Talks over a longer-term contract have already taken place, but the two parties have so far been unable to agree terms, and Williams doesn't anticipate a resolution until after the summer, adding that he hopes the striker will show he's worth tying down to a longer contract.

“That’s where we are at the moment, we have shown a commitment and it’s a platform for him to show why he should be tied down for a longer time," he added.

"I'm sure if you asked Culls, he'd sign a lifetime contract at Swansea. No doubt. But there's a lot that goes into it and for me, the obvious thing that's going to happen is that Cully's going to have the bit between his teeth, and he's going to go get something far better than what he was talking about a few weeks ago. I know that's what's going to happen.

"He's going to do it. He’s 25, he understands what I want and he has the spirit to withstand a lot.

“If he is out the team, he trains by showing you how much he wants to be involved, but he never goes to a place where he sulks or is disengaged, he loves the club and these things are important.

“He has a smile on his face getting out of the car in the morning to come to work for this club.”

Meanwhile, there are still questions hanging over the futures of Joe Allen, Jamie Paterson, Kyle Naughton, Przemyslaw Placheta and Liam Walsh, all of whom are similarly out of contract this summer.