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Cape Town - Swansea City veteran midfielder Leon Britton admits it would be a huge setback for the club if playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson signs for a Premier League rival.
Everton and Leicester City have reportedly had bids of £40m rejected by the Swans, who believe the 27-year-old's value is closer to £50m.
However, if either club meet the valuation and Sigurdsson leaves, Swansea will have a tough job trying to replace him, according to Britton.
"You do live in hope that he will stay," Britton told BBC Radio 5 live.
"I don't know if it's going to get done. If he does go, it's vitally important to replace him with the same kind of quality."
"It's a difficult one, it has maybe dragged on longer than a lot of people have expected," the 34-year-old added.
"Gylfi wasn't in America, he didn't travel with the squad for Birmingham away. When things like that happen you do think that 'yes, the transfer will happen'.
"Things do change overnight, maybe Everton move on to another target they think is better value for money, maybe a new target becomes available.
"But it would be a massive blow, you can't deny the influence he had on the team.
"When you see Gylfi's stats last year you think he would be playing for one of the top-half clubs, he is a big influence at the top end of the pitch.
"Unfortunately at the kind of club we're at, when the biggest teams come calling it is hard to keep him."
