Championship boss 'optimistic' Northern Ireland star will sign contract extension amid transfer interest

Galbraith joined the Championship club from Leyton Orient last season in a deal worth around £1.5million and is already a firm fan favourite.

The 24-year-old has made 39 appearances for Swansea this term, scoring three goals, and has been deployed at both right-back and in midfield.

Galbraith has hit the headlines with a string of impressive performances for Northern Ireland over the past 18 months, shining against European powerhouses Germany and Italy during a recent World Cup qualifying campaign.

This week, it was reported that Galbraith had turned down a fresh contract offer from Swansea – his current deal runs until 2028 with the option of a further year.

However, Matos insists the club remain in communication with Galbraith’s representatives and hopes a solution can be found.

"I think they are speaking," Matos told BBC Sport Wales. "It's a normal situation – you make an offer, they make an offer, then somehow in the middle there will be something.

"He is under contract with the club, the club of course is always trying to have a stronger link with the players who are having a good season. That's what the club is trying.

"I think we need to be optimistic with everything.

"I think Gally has a lot of things that we all love as a club, and I do as a manager - I like him a lot.

"So why not tie up the players you like for the future of the club? He is one of those. That's what we are trying and negotiations are part of that.

"You speak with the agent, the agent speaks with the club and then let's see."

Glengormley native Galbraith joined Premier League giants Manchester United from Linfield in 2017 and registered one senior appearance in the Europa League.

He dropped down the English pyramid to gain crucial experience, enjoying loan stints at Doncaster Rovers and Salford City before joining Leyton Orient in 2023.

Galbraith has established his position in Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland line-up and the national team boss believes the midfielder has what it takes to thrive at the highest level.

"I think the first thing is he made a really good choice in the club he went to,” said O’Neill after March’s international window. “I spoke to him in the summer and he had other options.

"I think relocating to Swansea was not maybe at the top of his list because he'd been in London and Manchester for the majority of his career.

"But I think over the last season, the player that we always knew...I've known Ethan since he was 15, 16 years of age, from when he was in our underage and development squads.

"I gave him his international debut when he was 17 and it took him longer to come through maybe than what we'd hoped.

"Part of that is obviously his development with his club.

"To me, I think there's another step in Ethan. Him and Shea (Charles) have developed a real good partnership in the midfield together.

"His versatility is a sign of just I suppose the football intelligence and shows us what a top-class player he can still develop into.”