According to latest reports, Everton seems to have reignited their interest in Swansea’s star winger Gylfi Sigurdsson and would come in after him heavily this summer. However, new Swansea City manager Paul Clement is determined to keep his best man at Liberty Stadium and if the Swans do manage to avoid relegation this season, the task further becomes monumental for the Merseyside club.
Everton boss Ronald Koeman, who has been a long-term admirer of the player, knows the complexity of the situation well and is reportedly ready to shell out £28m to bring the 27-year-old in. The Iceland international was pursued last summer too, but Swansea blatantly rejected the offer. And although Everton didn’t pursue him last winter, when Swansea were reeling in the relegation zone, he still holds a top preference in their transfer targets.
Apart from a slow start to the season, Sigurdsson has been just phenomenal, scoring eight goals and providing 11 assists in 29 appearances. A central attacking midfielder by nature, Sigurdsson is equally adept on both the flanks and could provide some delightful assists from wide areas. Teams having a strong central forward spearheading the attack, like Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Stoke City and so, could hugely benefit from a player of his calibre.
Everton are going through intense negotiations to keep star players Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley at the club after the duo has been pretty much the main reason for their league position this season. However, holding to either for them seems quite difficult. Undoubtedly, if Everton are to hold on to one of them, it would be Lukaku. And Sigurdsson could be Barkley’s ideal replacement.
A youth product of Iceland side Breidablik Kópavogur, Sigurdsson moved to England back in 2005, to join Reading Under-18. He broke into their first team in two years and was sent to loan stints with Shrewsbury and Crewe Alexandra before TSG 1899 Hoffenheim bought him in 2010. He spent the last six months with Swansea City in 2012 before TSG 1899 Hoffenheim sold him to Spurs. Two unimpressive seasons at White Hart Lane and he was finally sold to Swansea City on a permanent basis in 2014
Sigurdsson shares a good equation with current boss Clement, who has immense trust in the player. The South Wales club have even rejected a £35m bid from China last winter. Hence, the only way to land him would be if Swansea gets relegated. And Swansea’s last few games are not simple by any means. They face Spurs, Manchester United and Everton in the last three games.
However, if Everton does manage to get their hands on Gylfi Sigurdsson, that would represent a major coup for the Merseyside club and potentially even transform them into unlikely title challengers next season.
