JOSE Canas will turn down a double-your- money pay deal to sign for Swansea City — because he wants to play for Michael Laudrup.
The Real Betis midfielder is set to reject rival offers to become Laudrup's first summer signing.
Canas has long been linked with a move to the Liberty and the switch could be confirmed as early as next week. But Swansea have had to fight off interest from rival Premier League clubs to move into pole position to land the anchorman.
The Evening Post understands West Brom made an offer to Canas, who is available on a free transfer this summer because his Betis contract is up.
The Baggies are believed to have put together a lucrative package which would have seen Canas earn as much as double what he will be paid by Swansea.
But the Laudrup factor looks to have convinced the Spaniard to opt for a move to Wales.
Swansea's owners hope the Dane's presence will help convince a number of his other transfer targets to move to SA1.
Laudrup is on the trail of several strikers as he looks to add firepower to his squad in a bid to build on last season's ninth-place finish in the Premier League — but none of them will come cheap.
He is keen to land at least two high-calibre centre-forwards, and the Evening Post revealed at the weekend that he is interested in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Arouna Kone, having previously been linked with Iago Aspas and Romelu Lukaku.
Gabon international Aubameyang — a big hit with St Etienne last season — may be available for around £8 million, with Wigan man Kone likely to command a fee of around £5 million.
A deal for Celta Vigo's Aspas — who is now being touted as a target for Liverpool — would also be expected to break Swansea's current £5.55 million transfer record.
