Paul Clement is desperate to keep Gylfi Sigurdsson a Swansea City player this summer – but has no issue with the Icelander talking about his ambition to play for a bigger club.

The Swansea City manager has Sigurdsson back at his disposal after an international break during which the midfielder spoke of his desire to play at the highest level.

The Swans’ most influential player this season still has three years left on his current contract, but that has not stopped him being linked with envious clubs, with Everton rebuffed during the last transfer window with a reported £25m bid.

During his time away with Iceland last week, prior to their victory over Kosovo, Sigurdsson, 27, spoke of his hopes of playing for a big club in the most significant tournaments, but Clement is relaxed about the prospect.

He said: “It is good for a young player to have ambition to play at the very highest level, I haven’t got any problem with that.

“I have no problem with Gylfi saying that because what I see in him is a player very motivated to play well here help us remain in this league this season.

“I’ve had no conversation with him about going elsewhere. Everything has been about training hard and doing his best for Swansea every day.

“I see it in training, in the gym, the video room, see it in extra work he puts in training and that for me is no coincidence that he is such a good player.

“If anyone asks me before what divides the top players from the rest, yes they have talent but they have an unbelievable work ethic.

“All the best players I have worked with have this work ethic and Glyfi Sigurdsson has that work ethic.”

Despite the length of Sigurdsson’s deal – renewed only last summer – Clement accepts there will be plenty of clubs keen to buy the former Spurs player at the end of this season.

That queue is likely to grow should the worst happen to Swansea and they fall out of the Premier League, but Clement insists supporters should not be overly concerned and that other priorities loom large.

“It will always be the case for all clubs below the very top ones in Europe that they will be looking for better players. It’s no surprise.

“But I’m not worried and fans shouldn’t worry about this – the focus is on now, preparing for Middlesbrough and then Tottenham.

“It’s about the next nine games and then when we get to the end of the season it will be very clear what level we’re playing at next season and plans will move on from there.”

Clement has been boosted by a clean bill of health for this Sunday’s clash against Middlesbrough amongst all his players who were away on international duty.

In addition, both Martin Olsson and Kyle Naughton have recovered from injury and will be available for the game against the Swans’ fellow Premier League strugglers.