Swans targetViera ‘sad’ at how transfer saga has panned out
LAS Palmas midfielder Jonathan Viera has broken his silence on a potential move to Swansea City, admitting he is sad at how his situation has been handled.
It comes amid rival interest from Leicester City, according to Spanish media, with a major tussle now developing over the 27-year-old.
The Canary Island club were believed to be putting together a new contract offer for Viera, but the attacking midfielder has revealed his disappointment about the way the situation has been handled.
Viera (pictured) has a €30million release clause that Swansea are unwilling to meet and the Spaniard has revealed he’d be happy to stay if Las Palmas make him feel wanted with an improved contract. If not, he could follow former teammate Roque Mesa to the Liberty Stadium.
“I’ve always been very clear and I would like to stay here,” he told La Provincia.
“We’ve been complicated for a few months because of the rumours that have come out and I’m sad about how everything has been done, but I deserve to be valued as I have always been. (I am) also sad about how this situation has been handled.”
Viera and his representatives are expecting more offers this week, with Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare reportedly keen on the Las Palmas Number 21.
Swansea’s interest dates back to July with Viera emerging as a potential replacement for Gylfi Sigurdsson if ‘the Iceman’ moves to Everton.
“It is not the moment to speak,” Viera told reporters in Tenerife on Wednesday.
He has since added: “Very good offers and new ones will arrive this week. The proposals that are going to arrive are very big and I will make a big effort if I stay.
“But I need the club and the people want me to stay.”
Despite the ongoing uncertainty, the player expects to remain with the Lia Liga outfit. But the primary sticking point is an improved deal, with his current contract set to expire in June 2021.
Viera suggested he would not sign a new deal unless he feels the club show they value him in any terms they offer.
Viera hit seven goals to propel Las Palmas to 14th-placed finish last season, triggering widespread interest in his services. Everton and Newcastle United have also been linked.
Viera said: “I think there will be no problem because both sides want the same and we are forced to understand each other.
“I am happy here and I would like to end here, but it is also clear that I would like to be valued as I think I deserve to be valued; simply that. I’ve never asked for more than I deserve and I’ve always had a face in bad times.”
Swansea City goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt is attracting interest from Championship clubs, with Bristol City and Nottingham Forest understood to be among the contenders for a loan deal.
Sweden international Nordfeldt joined the Swans from Heerenveen in the summer of 2015, but has made just two Premier League appearances due to the form of Lukasz Fabianski.
Both those outings came on the final day of each season, and Swansea have decided to allow the 28-year-old to move on loan in order for him to gain regular firstteam action and avoid stagnating as a substitute.
In order to allow that to happen, the Swans snapped up Dutch keeper Erwin Mulder on a free transfer.
It is understood there are several Championship teams who are keen on a move for Nordfeldt, but it is Bristol City and Nottingham Forest who are thought to have firmed up their interest in 6ft 3in stopper.
Frank Fielding has been the Robins’ number one for much of the last three seasons but manager Lee Johnson is thought to be keen to bolster his goalkeeping options.
Forest boss Mark Warburton currently has Stephen Henderson, Vladimir Stojkovic and Jordan Amith among his goalkeeping staff.
Nordfeldt is under contract with Swansea until the summer of 2020, but in June he revealed his desire to make a Liberty Stadium exit, even though he had been told a permanent switch was out of the question.