Push on to fill of Sigurdsson
bids from the Toffees and had been ready to dismiss all offers, but had to accept being open to discussions once the player had signalled he was eager to go.
Talks are thought to have left Liberty chiefs frustrated in the extreme, with some sources suggesting Everton ‘moved the goalposts’ over the deal, including one claim that a fee had been agreed more than a week ago only for Merseyside officials to then back down.
Swansea had also previously rejected a £40m package – one that included non-guaranteed add-ons – but it has only been in the past few days that an arrangement came close to suiting both parties, including what is thought to be a ‘healthy’ percentage of up-front cash. The remainder will be paid in instalments.
Swansea were also wary that, after Sigurdsson’s decision to pull out of the pre-season tour to America just hours before the team’s departure because of the Everton interest – as well as the delay eating into Clement’s chance to recruit – they were in need to put an end to the saga and thus compromise to an extent.
Yet, having made their initial stance, the club also remained eager to show that they would fight for top prices for their stars in case of future attempts to lure key assets.
Swansea will be required to pay Tottenham a percentage of the sale as per the deal that originally brought him back to the Liberty in 2014, a move that valued Sigurdsson at around £8m as part of a swap involving Wales defender Ben Davies.
Swansea will now be under pressure from supporters to reinvest much of the Sigurdsson cash into new signings, having already seen the £10m sale of Jack Cork to Burnley fund much of the £11m move for Las Palmas midfielder Roque Mesa.
It is thought Swansea did pay a large loan fee to secure the services of Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham for the season, but have also offloaded Bafetimbi Gomis and Modou Barrow.
There will be a wariness to reserve some funds for potential January additions, though fans will now want to see moves made before the August 31 deadline for summer business, having harboured concerns the squad has been weakened since last year’s survival act.
Clement had opted against defensive reinforcements, but has been known to want to add to his ‘advanced positions’ regardless of the Sigurdsson situation.
A decision was made to hold off from pursuing targets, knowing the extra cash from the potential sale of last year’s player of the season would open up a new bracket of targets.
Chadli is expected to be one of those, the versatile forward having seen his future under Tony Pulis at West Brom left in doubt just 12 months after a £15m move from Tottenham.
There have been reports of the Baggies demanding £25m for the 28-year-old, but there are suggestions Swansea could make a deal happen at £20m or even less.
It is not expected any deal would have much chance of being completed before the weekend clash with Manchester United, one of two fixtures remaining – the other being the Saturday-week trip to Crystal Palace – before window shuts during the international break.
Bony has been reported as being valued at £10m at City, while Allen could cost as much as £25m.
The Pembrokeshire playmaker had been keen on a return to his boyhood club last summer only for Stoke to pounce as Swansea were financially-tied during the completion of their takeover. Allen is now thought to be settled at Stoke and it remains to be seen if the Potters would back down over their current ‘not for sale’ stance even if Swansea pushed.
Furthermore, Swansea would also have to factor in hikes to the wage bill – something governed by Financial Fair Play – even with top-earner Sigurdsson off the books.