Pardew: "I really like the look of that lad, he has a special quality.
"He has an eye for goal, and is very difficult to close down.
"He has lit up the Premiership this season."
But he won't be coming to St James' Park ... Swansea have smashed their transfer record in order to keep him on a permanent basis.
The Swans almost doubled the amount they paid to Watford to secure Danny Graham last season when they agreed a £6.8million fee with Hoffenheim for the Iceland international.
Sigurdsson, who was keen to stay at the Liberty Stadium after a five-month loan spell, has already agreed personal terms and will undergo a medical later this week before he completes his move.