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The Gylfi Sigurdsson transfer saga has seemingly gone on for the entire summer, with no resolution made clear either way. Swansea City have firmly stuck to their guns in asking £50m for their talismanic playmaker while Everton have made bids of £40m and £45m, with a third bid of £45m plus young defender Callum Connolly likely on the way.
Earlier today, members of the Swansea Supporters Trust had mentioned that the Icelander had signed a new deal and would stay at the Welsh club, with a big payraise and the club captaincy as sweeteners.
"It's dragged on longer than people have expected"
— BBC 5 live Sport (@5liveSport) July 31, 2017
Swansea's Leon Britton gives an insight into the Gylfi Sigurdsson #EFC transfer saga. pic.twitter.com/q6MlMeaTYC
Speaking on BBC Radio’s FiveLive, current captain Leon Britton spoke candidly about the Swans chances of holding on to the player, sounding almost pessimistic that Sigurdsson would still be in Wales next season.
"His stats last year in terms of assists and goals, you'd think he be playing for one of the club in the top half of the table.
"He's a big influence in the top end of the pitch for us, but unfortunately the club we're at, Swansea, when the bigger teams come calling it is hard to keep him.
"The club have stood firm. By all accounts they've said they want £50million.
"I don't know if it's going to get done. I think Everton have maybe offered £40-45million so I think there'll be some movement now and Gylfi will go."
The 27-year-old picked up 9 goals and 13 assists last season and was key in the Swans surviving relegation last season. Britton went on to say that he wanted the club to replace Sigurdsson with someone who could perform a similar role should the Iceland international leave.
"If he does go, it's vitally important that we replace him with the same quality, as much as we can.
"It's maybe dragged on a lot longer than people expected and with Gylfi not travelling to America and to the friendly against Birmingham away - when things like that happen you do think that the transfer will happen.
"You never know, things can change overnight so you live in hope that he will stay. But Everton have bid a lot of money before and you'd think they're not too far away from it."