Sigurdsson saga stifles Swansea
Coach Clement can’t hide his frustration as midfielder is linked to Everton
Iceland midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson’s future must be sorted out as soon as possible to avoid harming Swansea’s preparations for the upcoming Premier League season, says manager Paul Clement.
The 27-year-old played a pivotal role in keeping the Swans in the top flight last season, scoring nine goals and creating 13 others, and has been linked with a move to Everton.
Swansea slapped a £50 million (Dh235 million) price tag on him, with the Welsh club having rejected a £40 million bid from 2015-16 champions Leicester.
“You don’t want to be in a situation where it’s dragging on through July and all through August, when the season’s started, with the situation not being resolved. The sooner the better,” said Clement before the squad leaving for their pre-season tour in the United States.
“I don’t know how people are going to behave in the future. I know the kind of character I worked with last year — someone who’s very professional.
“He’s [Sigurdsson] come back, he’s got his head down and he’s doing his work, so I hope that continues.
“He’s one of our most valuable players. He showed that last season with his goals and his assists, and he was instrumental in us maintaining our Premier League status.”
Clement, who admitted on Wednesday that Spanish striker Fernando Llorente may not be fit for the start of the campaign due to a broken arm, said he hoped Sigurdsson would stay.
The pitch
However, he admitted that if the bid was substantial enough business would dictate he left — although it is reported Swansea declined the offer from Everton of money plus their England midfielder Ross Barkley.
“I’ve made it very clear I want him to stay here,” said Clement. “The fans want that, the owners would like that but, ultimately, there’s a business side to football as well.”
Sigurdsson, whose contract runs to 2020, has been at Swansea on a permanent basis since 2014 after a twoyear spell at Tottenham, who bought him from Hoffenheim for nearly £9 million.