Tottenham beats Liverpool to Sigurdsson's signature

The 22-year-old becomes Andre Villas-Boas' first signing as Spurs' head coach in an £8 million deal.

 Sigurdsson is understood to have agreed a salary package worth £50,000-a-week after Spurs fought off competition from Liverpool.

 The Reds had been in pole position to sign Sigurdsson as the player appeared keen to re-unite with Brendan Rodgers, with whom he worked at Swansea during a loan spell last season.

 But Tottenham made their move for the former Reading man and agreed a deal in principle last week.

 Sigurdsson scored seven goals last season in 19 appearances for Swansea and was keen to return to the Premier League.

 The Swans had agreed terms to make Sigurdsson's move permanent but their hopes were ended when Rodgers departed to take over at Anfield.

 His arrival could raise questions over the future of Rafael Van der Vaart, who has been strongly linked with a return to Germany where Hamburg and Schalke are both monitoring his situation.

 Spurs are expected to be active in the transfer market ahead of the coming season as they back Villas-Boas, who was formally appointed on Tuesday, to get the club back in the Champions League.

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Brendan Rodgers to Secure First Liverpool Signing In £8m Deal This Week

LIVERPOOL are closing in on their first signing of the summer, with Gylfi Sigurdsson edging ever nearer to a move to Anfield.

 The Post understands the Hoffenheim midfielder has informed new Reds boss Brendan Rodgers that he would like to join him on Merseyside, and that a deal for the Icelandic international could now go through this week, provided personal terms are agreed, and a medical examination is passed.

 It is understood that he will speak to Sigurdsson by telephone, but Swansea are resigned to missing out on a player who netted seven goals in 19 appearances during a productive end to the last campaign.

 Liverpool would be expected to pay a fee of around £8m, with Swansea having negotiated a discounted price as part of his loan arrangement back in January.

 Brendan Rodgers knows Gylfi Sigurdsson very well, both from his time in charge at Reading and last term when he was Swansea City boss, and it is growing increasingly likely that the Northern Irishman is set to link up with the impressive young Icelandic midfielder.

 The 22 year old has made it fairly clear that he is keen on a move to Anfield and an £8m move to the Merseyside club is on the cards, despite reported interest from a number of other Premier League sides. Sigurdsson is a type of player Liverpool badly need.

 Despite the signing of a number of midfield and attacking signings over the past 18 months the club still lacks a cutting edge and creativity linking midfield and attack. 

The likes of Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing have failed to deliver in terms of both goals and assists. 

The Hoffenheim man showed last term during his half season loan at the Liberty Stadium that he can be a very effective performer who could excel in a Liverpool side this coming season and at £8m he is a cost effective addition to a squad that could well do with intelligent investment.

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