Gylfi Sigurdsson

Transfer news: The Iceland international changed his wage demands when Rodgers moved from Swansea to Liverpool

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes that Gylfi Sigurdsson moved to Tottenham because they offered more money than had been agreed between the boss and the player when at Swansea.

The Reds were beaten to the Iceland international by Spurs despite looking in pole position to sign the 22-year-old because of the pair’s relationship.

Sigurdsson claimed that Tottenham’s ambition was the lure but Rodgers portrays a different perspective.

“He wasn’t playing at Hoffenheim, I brought him to Swansea and he did very well for me there, scoring seven goals in 19 games and was very good,” said the Reds boss, who succeeded Kenny Dalglish just over a month ago.

“He and I both sat and spoke and believed that playing football was going to be the most important aspect for him.

“But obviously it was important financially so we agreed a deal for him to go to Swansea and that was wrapped up.

“I then became the Liverpool manager and that then wasn’t something that was going to happen at Swansea so he then had a choice of where he wanted to go.

“I knew what the market was and I wasn’t prepared to pay anything over what I had known was agreed before.

“Liverpool would have provided Gylfi with a wonderful opportunity to perform with a manager that he knows and at a club which is a real footballing institution.

“But he’s decided to go to Tottenham, for whatever reason.

“I wish him the best, he’s a good kid and there’s no ill feeling. We’ve got other targets and we’ll move on.”