Gylfi Sigurdsson to Everton: Swansea leave midfielder out of squad for season opener

Fernando Llorente is absent after fracturing his arm while on a cycling holiday last month, joining Nathan Dyer (Achilles) and Ki Sung-yueng (knee) on the sidelines.

England Under-21 striker Tammy Abraham is expected to make his debut on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

But Sigurdsson’s name is the biggest absence with his future still uncertain.

Everton want to land the midfielder and have seen a £40m bid rejected with Swansea holding out for £50m.

Everton have splashed the cash this season which moves for Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane the pick of their signings.

Wayne Rooney and Sandro have also bolstered their attacking options but Ronald Koeman is keen to sign Sigurdsson with Ross Barkley’s future uncertain.

Barkley has been linked with Tottenham but Koeman has told them to forget about landing him on the cheap.

“No, of course not,” said Koeman when asked if Everton would allow Barkley to leave cheaply.

“We have the experience of what we need to pay for players who came here and had one year of contract. If there is a club thinking we can wait until the last day and we put some money on the table and we get Ross Barkley, sorry, you do not get Ross Barkley.

“I do not know if Spurs are doing that. I am not sure. I have some experience. When I was in Southampton we lost some players, but I am mentioning the name of no club.”

Swansea kick off with a trip to Southampton who are also without a key player in Virgil van Dijk.

Van Dijk handed in a transfer request last week after interest from Liverpool and Southampton.

But boss Mauricio Pellegrino admitted he was under the weather.

When asked whether Van Dijk was available for selection, Pellegrino replied: "No, no, because this week he was with some trouble with a virus. He couldn't train the last two days.

"We are expecting him to come back to train with us because we need the player.

"Hopefully he can change his point of view. The club was clear from the beginning with the player. We cannot control every single situation. Virgil is part of our club. He has a contract but we are now waiting."