Swansea City manager Steve Cooper is delighted Black Stars captain Andre Ayew choose to stay with the Welsh side despite been linked with moves to top European sides.

The Welsh club had placed Andre Ayew on the transfer market in order to help reduce their wage bill but just after their impressive 1 nil win over Leeds United in the Championship the club announced that Ayew is no longer on the market.

However, he made an instant impact on his return to Swansea's first team, scoring a brace in a 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Northampton Town last month.

Steve Cooper believes Ayew wanted to be with the Swans that is why he stayed and his vast experince as captain of the Black Stars will be of huge benefit to his side.

"Andre’s a high-profile player here at Swansea and in the Championship and he did have offers. He could have gone. But the most important thing to say is that he’s wanted to stay because he believes in what we’re doing and he wants to be a part of it," added Cooper.

"My gut feeling was that that would be the case. I just saw a really motivated player every single day.

"My experience of Andre, as with all the players, have only been positive. He’s obviously a talented player, he's making a difference in game and he's performing well, but he’s also captain of his national team, he has experience and has been more than willing to share that and trying to get the best out of others.

"I've really enjoyed my conversations with him, he understands the game and I look forward to working with him.

"The key to everything is motivation. If you're motivated then you get the best out of yourself. With him staying he’s obviously motivated to do well here and if he does that I think everybody will be a winner, especially him."

Andre Dede Ayew will be a sure starter as the Swansea take on Sabri Lamouche's Nottingham Forest this weekend in their Championship fixture.