Transfer Centre

Swansea City defend choice to give up on Gylfi Sigurdsson

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 28 June 2012

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins says that the club's agreement to sign Gylfi Sigurdsson on a permanent transfer was erased following Brendan Rodgers's departure to Liverpool.

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins has defended his club's decision to end their pursuit of former loan signing Gylfi Sigurdsson.

The Hoffenheim midfielder finished the season at the Liberty Stadium on a temporary basis and was originally expected to make a permanent move to the Welsh club.

Following Brendan Rodgers's move to Liverpool, the 22-year-old playmaker was thought to be making the trip with the Northern Irishman but Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as the favourites to clinch the signature of the Iceland international.

"Gylfi was a signing that was on the cards when Brendan was with us. Once Brendan decided to embark down a different route then that signing always looked unlikely," said Jenkins.

"The bid was there but nothing has been discussed since. Our focus was on bringing in the new manager. The delay in signing Gylfi - probably three weeks - meant I believed it was the right thing not to push that signing. It was the right thing to wait and make a joint decision.

"It was left and [new boss Michael Laudrup's] thoughts are with that sort of transfer fee we were about to commit to, with wages and fees involved, then it's a general discussion on what else you can spend that money on."

Meanwhile, the Swans are expected to undergo contract talks with forward Scott Sinclair in the coming weeks.