Sigurdsson signs with Swansea

Swansea City have agreed a club-record 6.8 million pounds fee for Hoffenheim midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson.

And the Welsh Premier League club have also denied claims that Liverpool have contacted them again over permission to speak with Brendan Rodgers for the managerial vacancy at Anfield.

Sigurdsson, the Iceland international, joined the Swans on loan in January, after struggling to nail down a first-team berth in Germany.

He proved to be a huge success, scoring seven goals in 19 appearances as the club finished 11th.

Swansea have moved quickly to ensure that deal became permanent, making the 22-year-old their first signing of the summer.

Sigurdsson began his senior career at Reading, where Rodgers previously spent an ill-fated spell in charge, making 38 league appearances in his first season but just four in his second.

This led to a move to the Bundesliga where he again was a key man in his debut year but fell down the pecking order before being loaned out to England.

The Icelandic attacker has seven caps for his national side and scored his first international goal during a Euro 2012 qualifier against Portugal in 2011.

His transfer fee almost doubles the previous club record of 3.5m pounds paid to Watford for striker Danny Graham last July.

Meanwhile, Rodgers, 39, has been touted to replace Kenny Dalglish after the Scot was sacked earlier this month.

A statement on the club’s official website said: “We would like to clarify the speculation in the press surrounding our manager Brendan Rodgers.

“We would like to confirm that there has been no contact from Liverpool and nothing has changed since our previous statement on the issue.”

Rodgers has already turned down the chance to talk to Liverpool.

An earlier statement from the Welsh club read: “Swansea City can confirm that an approach from Liverpool FC to speak to manager Brendan Rodgers was officially received by club chairman Huw Jenkins this morning.

“The club is pleased to confirm that Brendan has declined the current opportunity to speak to the Anfield club about the vacant position.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/sigurdsson-signs-with-swansea/95396/

Pardew linked to Bolton´s Davies

Newcastle United are preparing a three million pounds bid for Bolton midfielder Mark Davies as they look to European football.

United want to sign the former Wolves player to bolster their midfield options ahead of a campaign that will include Europa League football.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew sees Davies as the ideal recruit to intensify the competition for places in midfield where French international Yohan Cabaye and Ivorian Cheikh Tiote struck up a formidable partnership last season.

The pair were instrumental in the fifth-placed finish in the Premier League that means Pardew’s side, who were relegated three years ago, could look forward to a return to European football.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle is reluctant to allow 24-year-old Davies to quit the Reebok Stadium following the Trotters’ relegation to the Championship but it is understood that the offer will be enough to prise him away from the Lancashire club.

“They have had their eye on him for some time now and so if all goes well then Mark will be a Newcastle player this summer,” a Tyneside source told Goal.com.

“They are talking about three million pounds for a player who did well for Bolton even though they went down.

“He is a bright, skilful and hard-working player who would fit nicely into Pardew’s team but it would be made clear to him that he would have to get past Cabaye and Tiote to get into the first team.”

Newcastle’s interest in Davies suggests that Danny Guthrie, who has been linked with Aston Villa, will be allowed to leave when the transfer window opens in June with his contract expiring in the next fortnight.

Former Manchester United full-back Danny Simpson, who is reported to be interesting Fulham, will also be allowed to leave having rejected a new deal.

Newcastle are also being tipped to sign 22-year-old full-back Romain Amalfitano from French Ligue 2 club Stade de Reims with a deal already agreed.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/pardew-linked-to-bolton%c2%b4s-davies/95070/