Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers was confident his club could secure the signing of Cliftonville striker Rory Donnelly
Everton have out-bid Swansea in the tussle to sign Rory Donnelly from Cliftonville.
The 19-year-old striker is set to leave the Northern Irish club in January, with Swansea having an offer of around £100,000 accepted.
But Cliftonville chairman Gerard Lawlor has upped the asking price, telling skysports.com: “Everton’s bid is considerably higher than Swansea’s.
“There is a major difference in the bids. They are miles apart.”
He added: “My job is to do the best thing for Cliftonville.”
Earlier, Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers said: “I find it sad and disappointing that we had an agreement and now we don’t.
“Morally you would think that would stand but we will find out over the next few days.”
Cliftonville boss Tommy Breslin believes Northern Irishman Rodgers could yet get his man, explaining that Swansea’s personal touch may prove significant.
Breslin said: “Rory said that he was impressed by Swansea and by what Brendan Rodgers had to say.
“He said the facilities were good and that there was a great team spirit with no egos. The Northern Irish link with Brendan probably helped too.
“We expect the deal to be completed. We’ve got a fixture on Boxing Day and I’m planning for it without Rory.”
After Rodgers confirmed Swansea and Donnelly’s agents were in dispute over the fee, Everton became favourites to sign the Northern Irishman, who has also held talks with Liverpool.
Rodgers said: “We have done everything we can up until this moment. We had the player watched over a number of months, I went to see him myself, and I felt he was worth taking into our group.
BBC Sport NI highlights some of Rory Donnelly’s Cliftonville wonder goals
“We arranged for him to come over for a couple of days. He’s a good kid and his agent and assistant coach enjoyed their time here and that’s as much as we can do.
“We agreed the fee on the basis he came here and enjoyed it and we could put a deal together. What happens after that is out of our control.
“They decided the fee was no longer agreed and that’s something out of my hands.
“At this moment the chairman has spoken with their chairman and I will find out how that evolves.
“It’s up to the club. I came back with a valuation and Cliftonville have played the game quite well, but we shall see.
“He’s a good kid and the two clubs who are reportedly interested are fantastic clubs, but it has to be about an opportunity for the player and they [Cliftonville] will decide who will be best suited.”