De Vries' Swans deal edges closer

De Vries missed a month of last season with a fractured cheek bone

Swansea City are closing in on a deal to keep goalkeeper Dorus De Vries at the Liberty Stadium.

The out-of-contract Dutchman has been locked in talks over a new contract for six months.

Those talks appeared to break down last month, but there is now hope the 28-year-old will be playing for new boss Paulo Sousa next season.

"We are still in contact with Swansea and we are nearing an agreement," said De Vries' agent Arnold Oosterveer.

Swansea snapped up Dutchman De Vries on a free transfer from Dunfermline in the summer of 2007.

He was originally brought in as competition for Willy Gueret, but the Frenchman left on the eve of the 2007/8 campaign.

That left De Vries the only senior stopper and he was ever-present as the Swans ran away with the League One title.

606: DEBATE Will Dorus De Vries be Swansea's first-choice keeper next season?

He started last season again as the only senior keeper, but was sidelined for a month after suffering a fractured cheekbone in the 0-0 draw with Queens Park Rangers in October.

Former Greece Under-21 international Dimi Konstantopoulos was brought in as cover and almost joined permanently to challenge De Vries for his place, but missed the transfer deadline, leaving the Dutchman finishing the season as the only keeper.

"I've always said that I wanted to stay at Swansea because I know the set-up has been magnificent under Roberto Martinez," said De Vries.

"Things have now changed at Swansea and let's hope things will go in a positive way.

"I think the chairman has made a good step by appointing Paulo Sousa as the new manager."

De Vries added: "Paulo said he would like to work with me as the goalkeeper at Swansea and everything was positive.

"It's up to the chairman [Huw Jenkins] and my agent to get things sorted and hopefully it will be in a positive way.

"Pre-season training starts on Monday and I think the chairman wants it to get sorted before then.

"Everything can be really quick if things go well and let's hope they do."

Jenkins said: '' We are all very keen to get him signed up, we will see what we can do over the next couple of days.''