John Hartson has commented on Gylfi SIgurdsson’s potential move to Everton.
Pundit John Hartson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Swansea playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson’s move to Everton is a matter of when, not if, amid strong rumours of a deal.
Sigurdsson, 27, has been Swansea’s key player ever since re-joining the club from Tottenham Hotspur back in the summer of 2014, in a deal that saw Michel Vorm and Ben Davies head to North London.
The Iceland international hit nine goals and 13 assists in a superb Premier League campaign for Swansea last season, serving as their shining light in their battle against relegation.
Unsurprisingly though, Sigurdsson’s exploits have triggered major interest in his services, with The Guardian reporting that bids of £40million and £45million from Everton have been rejected this summer.
Sigurdsson has though been left out of recent friendlies as Swansea and Everton attempt to strike a deal, and The Mirror reported just days ago that the two clubs are finally nearing an agreement for Sigurdsson to head to Goodison Park before the start of the Premier League season.
Sigurdsson’s departure will be a huge blow for Swansea and a real boost to Everton’s creativity, and Swansea-supporting pundit John Hartson has offered his view on the deal to BBC Sport.
Hartson has suggested that the move is ultimately inevitable given that the player seemingly wants to move, and Swansea won’t want to keep a player whose heart may be elsewhere just a week before the start of the season.
John Hartson
Hartson noted that the fee is ‘irrelevant’ as Swansea already have money, but added that the Swans can now go and sign a replacement with their huge windfall as Everton close in on Sigurdsson.
“You try to hold onto him, you push the price up hoping that he stays,” said Hartson. “But I really can’t see it now, I think the boy is away, I think it’s a matter of when…you’ve got to let the player go. I think the £50m is irrelevant because Swansea have money anyway.”
“The money is there if they want to go and get a couple of players, they can do it now. But they are right in holding out if you value a player… it’s very unfortunate for a club like Swansea who want to hold onto their best players. Sigurdsson is one of those you cannot sell, you just cannot, but the problem you’ve got is if the player wants to go and they [another club] come up with the massive amount of money, which is £50m, then there’s really nothing you can do,” he added.
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