Ronald Koeman insists Everton’s deal for Gylfi Sigurdsson is ‘still close’ to completion.
Claims that the Blues risked missing out on one of their prime summer targets surfaced earlier this week amid a stand-off with Swansea City over the midfielder’s valuation.
Swansea are demanding a £50 million fee for Sigurdsson, which was said to have been at the heart of the impasse between the two clubs.
But Koeman has maintained that his plans to land the Iceland international remain very much alive despite suggestions the Welsh club may walk away from negotiations.
He said: “lt’s still close – that has not changed.
“I heard some rumours about the talks [had] broke down but still we’re in negotiations with Swansea and I heard the comments of Paul Clement, the manager of Swansea.
“Of course everybody likes to have news on that; that’s better for us, that’s better for them.
“But everybody knows the window is difficult. It’s always a game between the selling club and the buying club but we are close and let’s hope we get the agreement as soon as possible.”
Swans manager Paul Clement publicly implored both parties to find a ‘compromise’ in efforts to resolve Sigurdsson’s exit from the Liberty Stadium as soon as possible.
“We are at a critical stage of this situation and hope it’s going to be resolved very quickly,” said Clement.
“The situation is our club have a valuation of the player, the other club have a valuation, and at the moment the two have to meet.
“The objective and the aim is that at some point the two clubs will meet.
“I think the way it’s going I think there needs to be more than likely a compromise on both sides. That is very often how a deal is made.”