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Michael Laudrup’s future as Swansea City manager is hanging in the balance after the club severed all ties with the Dane’s agent, Bayram Tutumlu.

It is understood Swansea are angry at the role Tutumlu has played in the breakdown in relations between Laudrup and chairman Huw Jenkins over the club’s transfer policy.

One particular point of contention is the agent's involvement in the potential sale of Wales defender Ashley Williams.

Arsenal are reportedly on the verge of agreeing terms for the transfer of the Swansea centre-back, in a move which could also see the departure of Thomas Vermaelen from the Emirates.

However, chairman Huw Jenkins is believed to have told Tutumlu that he has no intention of allowing Williams's move out of the Liberty Stadium. 

Jenkins and the Swansea board have worked closely with Tutumlu during Laudrup’s first season, which saw the Welsh club win the League Cup, and there have been major issues between the two parties in recent weeks.

It led to Laudrup’s claim last week that the responsibility for not making significant additions to last season’s squad lay with the Premier League club and not the manager.

Now, Jenkins is understood to have told Tutumlu he will not deal with him any more over transfers, in or out of the club.

This leaves Laudrup with split loyalties, as he has known Tutumlu since he was a Barcelona player and the latest disagreement appears to make the Dane's position at Swansea even more tenuous, given the close ties between the two men.

Sources at Swansea suggested the club believed Tutumlu had attempted to recruit players behind the boards back since the end of the season in May, even though they had reiterated their preferred transfer policy.

Jenkins wanted to continue working closely with the manager in an attempt to strengthen the squad, in particular by signing at least two new strikers rumored to be Wigan’s Aroune Koné and West Bromwich Albion striker Peter Odemwingie.

Holding aloft Swansea's first major trophy in their 101-year history - The Times

However, they will no longer include Tutumlu in any negotiations with potential targets, which could be a huge stumbling block.

The move is likely to lead to an uneasy truce and Laudrup might eventually have to choose between his adviser or continuing in his current role at the Liberty Stadium. 

It is understood Jenkins remains in contact with Laudrup and the Dane has offered up a fresh list of potential transfer targets he believes will help the club consolidate on last season’s top-half finish.

Laudrup has been linked with half a dozen European clubs in recent weeks, including Roma, Fenerbahce and Paris St-Germain.

The 48-year-old, who in March signed an extension to his initial contract, has maintained he wants to remain at Swansea.

Tutumlu claims there is only an issue between himself and the Swans chairman Huw Jenkins.

Tutumlu told the BBC: "There is no problem with Michael Laudrup and Swansea City."

"He is staying. It is my problem, my problem with Huw Jenkins."

Following Swansea’s recent success, which saw Brendan Rodgers guide the club to promotion to the Premier League in 2011 and the trophy success in February, it would undoubtedly be a significant loss if the Welsh side were to lose Laudrup.