SPORT Everton step-up bid for Gylfi... as Iceman is key to Koeman’s plans

EVERTON will this week step up their pursuit of Gylfi Sigurdsson by trying to put together a package they feel meets Swansea City’s £50m value of their Icelandic talisman.

Koeman is believed to have told the Goodison hierarchy that Sigurdsson can be “the difference between Champions League football and a Europa League place” for the ambitious Merseyside club.

And he hopes throwing 19-yearold full-back Callum Connolly into the negotiating mix will be enough to persuade the Swans to part with their star man.

Sigurdsson (pictured) was left out of Swansea’s pre-season win over Birmingham on Saturday and Swans boss Paul Clement says he wants an “imminent” resolution to the ongoing transfer saga of the summer.

Everton are ready to table a package that involves £40m, £5m-rated Connolly thrown into the deal, plus extras that will equate to a further £5m.

Those extras include eminently achievable feats such as Everton appearances by Sigurdsson, goals scored and the position the team finish in the Premier League table.

It would equate to the £50m transfer earlier in the transfer window, but the player wasn’t interested in that move. However, Everton’s plans to crack value the Swans are sticking to for a the Champions League do appeal to player who is under contract at the Sigurdsson. Liberty Stadium for another three Koeman has spent millions this years. summer compiling a team who will Koeman remains desperate to make a push for the top, but he feels land Sigurdsson and wants to give Sigurdsson is the key to actually him the playmaking number 10 role making it happen. filled by Ross Barkley, who appears Swansea say the ball is in Everton’s Tottenham bound. court, but Koeman’s desire to land It could be Everton need to push his number one summer target through that deal before being able means a new package is being to land Sigurdsson, but Koeman is worked on. convinced the Icelander would be a Part of that involves young Connolly wow on Merseyside. moving in the other direction. He is thought to have told close Although a makeweight in the deal, aides Sigurdsson’s goal-getting ability the right-back cum centre-half is still and assists can give valued at £5m on Merseyside. Everton the extra edge Swansea are in the hunt for a rightback, required to break into where the youngster has the top four as they played the majority of his football. look to challenge Chelsea, Connolly spent last season on loan Tottenham, Arsenal, with Wigan, making 18 appearances Manchester United, for the Latics and has also played Manchester City once in the Premier League for Everton. and neighbours Liverpool. He was part of the England Under20s Leicester squad which won the age-grade had World Cup this summer and is offered thought to have a big future in the £40m game. plus Koeman said: “It’s up to the board. extras Everyone knows our interest in the for player but I don’t decide it in financial Sigurdsson terms. It’s up to the Board.”