Swansea City are set to shelve talks over a new deal for Harry Darling until the summer.

The centre-back is out of contract at the end of the season, and the Swans have been trying to persuade him to put pen to paper on a long-term extension with the club, having already tied down defensive partner Ben Cabango, who was similarly poised to become a free agent.

Darling is an important part of Williams' plans, having started every league game this season, but there has been little progress on tying him down to fresh terms.

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A contract offer remains on the table, and the decision now appears to be in Darling's court, with a resolution over his future now unlikely until the end of of the current campaign.

Asked after the defeat at Portsmouth if there had been any progress, Williams said: "Not at the moment.

"I think we are potentially going to be putting that to bed and letting Harry concentrate on his football."

A centre-back is already on the agenda for the Swans this January, with Wycombe Wanderers star Joe Low emerging as an early top target.

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Olympiakos loanee Nelson Abbey, however, is set to head the other way and out the exit, having made just one appearance for the club in the League Cup

"He has had a really tough time getting minutes here with the level of Harry and Ben, through no fault of his own," Williams said.

"He is a terrific character and he will go and play brilliantly for somebody now. We thank him for all his hard work with us."