Sigurdsson ‘dream’ will not distract us – Clement
PAUL Clement has admitted Swansea City will have to fight off big-money interest in Gylfi Sigurdsson this summer – but they need to focus on staying in the Premier League before fretting over the Iceland ace’s future.
Swansea have already turned down a offer of £30m from China for Sigurdsson, whose form this season has been critical in keeping alive hopes of retaining top-flight status at the Liberty and has seen him top the European assist charts.
Everton are known to be keen to test Swansea’s resolve at the end of the season, having been already knocked back by previous £25m interest.
And though Newcastle were linked to a questionably low £15m bid, it’s clear Sigurdsson will be high on the agenda for many clubs this summer with his performances set to attract major interest.
It comes after Sigurdsson admitted in an interview he still has ‘dreams to play at a big club’ – coming in response to Clement’s previous statement that the Iceman was good enough to be on a level with the stars he has worked with at Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain.
But Clement says he has no problem with Sigurdsson’s ambition – and insisted for now that is focused on keeping Swansea in the Premier League.
The 27-year-old is back from international duty ready to fire the Liberty club into their crucial survival showdown with Middlesbrough on Sunday, and Clement said: “That’s where all our focus is at the moment. “It is good for a player to have ambition to play at the highest level, I have no problem with that – but we have not spoken about him going elsewhere. Gylfi is highly motivated to help us remain in the league. It has all been about doing his best for Swansea every day.
“He is a top player, he has talent and an unbelievable work ethic and all the best players I have worked with have had that work ethic. That will make him a target for others and all clubs below the very top teams in Europe will always find there are those teams looking at their better players.
“But right now it is not in my thoughts about who will be here next season, it is about who can get us results.”
And Sigurdsson is ready to provide a much-needed win for Clement’s side who start the weekend three points above the relegation zone, five points ahead of their visitors, hailing the impact made by the former Real and Bayern No.2 since his January arrival.
The eight-goal star said: “I’ve enjoyed his work an incredible amount.
“You can see it on the training ground why Carlo Ancelotti took him with him wherever he went.
“We were in a much worse position than before he entered. He is a great coach.”
FIFA has opened proceedings against Neil Taylor following the Wales defender’s challenge on Republic of Ireland defender Seamus Coleman.
Everton defender Coleman needed surgery on a broken tibia and fibula after being injured in the 69th minute of Friday’s World Cup qualifying match at the Aviva Stadium, which finished in a goalless draw.
Coleman faces months on the sidelines and Taylor, who will definitely miss Wales’ next qualifier away to Serbia in June, faces the prospect of having his automatic one-match ban extended.
The Football Association of Wales has been informed of Fifa opening proceedings against Taylor and will review the incident.
The hearing is likely to be held within the next fortnight and Taylor’s ban could be increased to three games once Fifa studies the report of match referee Nicola Rizzoli.
If Taylor does receive a threematch ban that would also rule the Aston Villa defender out of Wales’ September World Cup double-header against Austria and Moldova.
Coleman left hospital on Wednesday and Republic manager Martin O’Neill said that the 28-year-old full-back was in good spirits after visiting him the previous day.
“It’s as much to do with he’s still got the family around – his brother, his wife, his mother and the youngster all keeping him pretty busy,” O’Neill said.
“I think he’s doing much better now. It’s not something you’re going to get over in 24 hours, 36 hours. He’s in much better spirits.
“It’s encouraging to see. He’s very positive, which I knew he would be. It’s a tough injury.
“Could he get over it? If anybody can quickly, then Seamus can do that.”
O’Neill described Taylor’s challenge as “very, very poor”, but the Welshman was defended by his manager Chris Coleman.
“Neil Taylor is not that type of player. He’s had a serious injury himself. He’s a great boy, he’s a cracking lad,” Coleman said after the game.
“Yes, it looks like he (Taylor) has got that one wrong on our part. Of course, Neil is devastated himself.”