LONDON: Iceland midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson is due to complete a 45 million pound move to Everton from Premier League rivals Swansea later on Wednesday if he passes a medical, British media reported.
The 27-year-old, due to sign a five-year contract worth 100,000 pounds a week, would be Everton's record signing, topping the 31.8 million pounds they paid Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku in 2014.
Sigurdsson, who played a pivotal role in Swansea retaining their Premier League status last term after scoring nine goals and creating 13, pulled out of their pre-season tour to the United States and was not included in the squad for last weekend's 0-0 draw with Southampton.
Swansea, who are also battling to keep Chelsea target and veteran Spanish striker Fernando Llorente, had wanted 50 million pounds.
They have already turned down two bids from Everton and rejected a reported 40 million pounds offer one from 2016 champions Leicester at the beginning of the summer.
It is believed, though, that Everton w ill get their way in paying an initial 40 million pounds with another £5m to follow, taking their close season spending under Ronald Koeman to over 140 million pounds.
Everton's majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has spent close to 100 million pounds so far in recruiting former favourite Wayne Rooney, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (£30m), midfielder Davy Klaassen (£23.6m), defender Michael Keane (£30m), Cuco Martina and Sandro Ramirez.
However, a considerable proportion of the spending has been financed by the 75 million pound sale of striker Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United.
They could further balance the books with a big money sale of midfielder Ross Barkley to Tottenham Hotspur, although he is presently injured and likely to be out till October.
Icelandic international Sigurdsson finished third in combined goals and assists amongst midfielders in the Premier League last season behind Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne and Tottenham's Christian Eriksen.