Everton appear to be closing in on the signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson.
According to Wales Online, Ronald Koeman has told Everton that signing Gylfi Sigurdsson is the difference between Champions League and Europa League football.
Everton have been chasing the 27-year-old for much of the summer transfer window but the Toffees have yet to meet Swansea City’s £50 million valuation.
However, it was reported by The Mirror that Koeman would include 19-year-old defender Callum Connolly in a potential player-plus-cash deal for the Iceland playmaker.
It would appear as if this saga is reaching a positive conclusion for the Merseyside outfit and, according to Wales Online, the Dutch manager is said to have told the club’s hierarchy that missing out on him could mean missing out on a top-four finish this season.
Everton have spent in excess of £100 million this summer and the former Southampton boss will certainly be expected to lead a serious challenge for Champions League qualification, with or without the ex-Tottenham man.
But with Sigurdsson, you get the feeling that such a talent could go a long, long way to helping the Merseysiders reach Europe’s elite competition in time for the 2018-19 season.
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