No-go for Gylfi, says Hartson

FORMER Wales striker John Hartson has said Swansea City simply can’t sell Everton target Gylfi Sigurdsson this summer.

The 27-year-old rocked the Swans when he pulled out of the club’s pre-season tour of America, with officials stating the midfield ace “did not feel in the right frame of mind to travel due to the current uncertainty over his future”.

Everton have already had a bid of £40m – £10m short of Swansea’s valuation of the 50-cap international – knocked back by the Swans, who stressed that they would not be bullied into selling their prized asset for a penny less than their asking price.

But Swansea-born Hartson who won 51 caps for Wales - says the club shouldn’t sell Sigurdsson for any price, adding that the only way he should be allowed to leave is if the player tells Paul Clement he wants to join the Toffees.

“They can’t sell him, it’s as simple as that,” Hartson told WalesOnline.

“Paul Clement wants players in his team that will fight for the shirt, which Sigurdsson has always done.

“But if he goes to Paul Clement – if he hasn’t already – and says ‘I want to play for Everton’, then they’ll have a decision to make. That, for me, is the only way Sigurdsson should leave, if he actually tells the club he wants out.”

John Hartson was speaking at the McDonald’s & FAW Community Football Day in Berriew, celebrating 15 years of McDonald’s partnering with the four UK home nations & supporting grassroots football. For more information visit www. mcdonalds.co.uk/betterplay