Everton’s Ross Barkley demands may be coming back to haunt them.
Everton are trying to work out a way to sign Gylfi Sigurdsson without paying a £50 million up front fee to Swansea City.
The Express report the two clubs are negotiating, with the Icelandic international making his desire clear by electing not to go on Swansea’s pre-season trip to the US yesterday.
The £50 million demand is steep, but according to The Express, they have themselves to blame.
That is because Swansea are reportedly using Everton’s £50 million valuation of Ross Barkley as a yardstick for their own valuation of Sigurdsson.
Swansea City’s Gylfi Sigurdsson in action
This summer Everton have been determined not to let Barkley go on the cheap to Tottenham, who have expressed an interest.
The Telegraph report Everton want £50 million for the midfielder, a price which is deterring Spurs.
Everton’s Ross Barkley in action
27-year-old Sigurdsson is four years older than Barkley and contributed to more goals and assists last season, while the Everton ace has just one year left on his contract.
£50 million for any player with one year remaining is steep, especially one who can be inconsistent like Barkley.
The notion that Everton have themselves to blame could just be an excuse from Swansea to hike the price, but the comparison with the Barkley demands is an interesting one.
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