Gylfi Sigurdsson has reported for pre-season duty with Swansea City – with no change over club plans to hold onto their in-demand star.
Sigurdsson has been the subject of intense summer speculation following his superb form in keeping the Swans in the Premier League last term.
Everton have declared an interest in the 27-year-old, as have former champions Leicester City, while Tottenham are also known to be monitoring the Iceland ace’s situation.
But there has been no change in
the club’s intention to ward off his admirers – and he was welcomed back into the Swansea ranks on Friday following the end of his extended break.
There have been wide-ranging reports of big-spending Everton being prepared to offer around £30m for the No.10, but it is business as usual for both Swansea – who value the player at significantly more – and Sigurdsson as attention turns towards the new campaign under Paul Clement.
And the set-piece specialist was back at the club’s first-team training base in Fairwood having been allowed to delay his return to South Wales after his summer involvement on the international stage.
Sigurdsson, Sweden pair Kristoffer Nordfeldt and Martin Olsson and Poland keeper Lukasz Fabianski were all involved in World Cup qualifiers for their respective countries in early June and so had an extra four days respite before pulling on club gear once more. Sigurdsson played in Iceland's impressive win over Croatia, Olsson and Nordfeldt featured in games against France and Norway, while Fabianski was on the bench as Poland beat Romania to stay on course for qualification.
The four underwent their medical testing while teammates continued sessions in the gym and on the pitches at the state-of-the-art Gower complex ahead of next week’s start of pre-season action where Swansea take on League Two Barnet at The Hive on Wednesday.
Alfie Mawson has been given further time off after featuring for England in the recent European Under 21 tournament alongside new loan signing Tammy Abraham, both expected to join up with the squad next week before travelling to America for the team’s pre-season tour.
New £11m signing Roque Mesa will also link up with his new teammates in time for the trip having made an emotional farewell statement to Las Palmas fans on Friday morning, the playmaker breaking down in tears as he said his goodbyes to his boyhood club having signed a four-year deal with the Swans on Thursday.
So Swansea have a game on Wednesday, I would think we would want to get this wrapped up by then.