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Swansea City gave the green-light on captain Ashley Williams’ £12m move to Everton out of respect for the Wales star’s service to the club – but are vowing that they’re not giving up on ambition.

And there have been assurances the cash from the skipper’s Merseyside exit will go back into the Liberty playing budget with claims close to the club that the ‘stepping stone’ days are over.

Euro 2016 ace Williams was in Liverpool on Tuesday finalising the deal to join the Toffees and bring an end to an eight-year spell in South Wales that brought two promotions, the club’s first major English honours and European football.

And it comes just days after last year’s leading scorer Andre Ayew made the switch to West Ham in a huge £20.5m deal.

That cash has already been re-invested with Sevilla’s World Cup winning striker Fernando Llorente set to start the new Premier League campaign as the side’s new No.9 – and a record £15m move for Atletico Madrid hot-shot Borja Baston set to be completed on Wednesday.

And while the Swans won’t rush into replacing Williams before Saturday’s opener at Burnley, it is thought that they are prepared to bring in further new faces with the money recouped from his Goodison switch.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

Swansea had hoped to hold onto Williams but accepted defeat in their fight once the centre-back asked to speak to Ronald Koeman after making an emotional decision to seek a new challenge.

And the club opted not to stand in his way out of respect for his key role in the club’s success over the past eight years.

It is thought the Swans’ new US majority shareholders were involved in talks to try and keep Williams and backed the decision to turn down Everton’s initial £10m approach.

But sources close to Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien say the pair are “absolutely adamant” that Swansea will not be “a stepping stone club” and pointed to the new deal for in-demand Iceland star Gylfi Sigurdsson as a key example of intent.

Sigurdsson had been the subject of firm interest of more than £25m only for Swansea to secure his future on a lucrative four-year deal.

And despite the blow of losing skipper Williams, the talk at the Liberty as been around building for a Premier League future with the arrival of 23-year-old Borja seen as a signal of that aim.