£50m FOR GYLFI OR FORGET IT
Everton told to cough up in bid to land Sigurdsson
SWANSEA CITY are continuing to dig their heels in over Gylfi Sigurdsson, and are demanding Everton meet their £50million valuation for the midfielder.
Ronald Koeman has made the Iceland international his No 1 target this summer, and the Swansea midfielder is keen on a switch to Goodison Park.
Everton had hoped to seal a deal for the 27-year-old worth £40m plus £5m in add-ons. But Swansea, who value Sigurdsson (below) at £50m, have demanded Everton come back with an improved offer.
Everton play Slovakian side Ruzomberok in a Europa League qualifier on Thursday, and want to complete the capture of Sigurdsson by then.
Swansea need the cash to help strengthen their squad with Nacer Chadli of West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City’s Wilfried Bony among their targets.
Everton’s also hope that Olivier Giroud wants to join them despite Arsene Wenger saying the striker wants to stay at Arsenal.
Sigurdsson would add to an impressive summer of signings for Everton, with Koeman’s side having already brought in Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane and sealed Wayne Rooney’s return to the club after 13 years with Manchester United.
Given their flurry of activity in the transfer market, some have suggested Everton may finish above their neighbours. While respectful, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is not losing any sleep over Everton’s dealings. ‘I’m not interested in what other clubs are doing until we play them,’ said the Liverpool boss. ‘I heard, of course a few things that they have done. Strikers, good. Wayne Rooney, you don’t have to talk about. The centre half Michael Keane came. So a lot of really good business. There is a lot of respect and if they’ve done good business. Well done. But when we face them we still want to win.’ Klopp, meanwhile, has refused to be drawn into a war of words with Jose Mourinho before the season has even started. Last week, the Manchester United boss kicked off the mind games by suggesting Liverpool and Chelsea would find things more difficult this season, as they would have to juggle the demands of a domestic campaign with European football. ‘I’m not interested in Mourinho says,’ Klopp responded. ‘Why should I talk about Manchester United? Jose is talking about us, yes. We had a season of what Man United had the year before. I don’t know if anybody asked us how it felt (then).’ EVERTON are to host a charity celebrity match in aid of the Bradley Lowery Foundation on September 3. The Toffees made a £200,000 donation to his cancer treatment fund after he attended their game with Sunderland in September last year.
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