LIVERPOOL TRANSFER NEWS: Johnson and Sigurdsson on the Move to Anfield?

New manager Brendan Rodgers is already at work and establishing a new culture at Liverpool as the Reds attempt to bounce back from a disappointing Premier League season.

So far, there has been little real news out of Anfield, other than the departure of Dutch international Dirk Kuyt, but there have been no shortage of transfer speculation from a club in transition.

CaughtOffside.com recently reported that Rodgers is in pursuit of English international Adam Johnson to fill the hole left by Kuyt on the wing. Liverpool are linked to a £16 million bid with the promise of first team football--an added bonus to pry Johnson away from reigning champion Manchester City.

Normally it would be odd to see such a talented player leave a team that just won the Premier League title, but Johnson has struggled to get onto the first team and City boss Roberto Mancini only started him in 10 games last season. The lack of playing time led Johnson to lose miss out on a spot with England at Euro 2012 and he is expected to see far more action if a transfer to Liverpool occurs.

Johnson is only 24 years old and looking to enter the prime of his career, a chance to prove doubters at Manchester City wrong at Liverpool may be too tantalizing an opportunity to turn down for the young player. A chance to play a whole season on the first team could raise Johnson's profile for a spot with the Three Lions.

Meanwhile, it looks to be almost certain that Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson will follow Rodgers from Swansea City to Liverpool.

The 22-year-old Iceland star played for Rodgers at Reading as well as at Swansea, while on loan from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim. After a stellar second-half to the season, Swansea agreed to a £6.8million transfer fee to have Sigurdsson join the team on a more permanent basis.

Now that Rodgers has left Swansea for Liverpool, the move looks likely to be shut down. The Daily Mail reports that Sigurdsson will now scrap the deal and look to move to Anfield to join the manager that coached him to great form at Swansea.

Sigurdsson explained his intentions to mbl.is, an Icelandic publication.

I expect not to stay at Swansea because of the uncertainty going on there as it is not clear who is boss.

I have said that my desire to continue playing in the Premier League and Liverpool is completely considered.

Sigurdsson, who was the Premier League Player of the Month for March, was a huge part of Swansea City's surprising season in the Premier League. In 18 league matches, he was able to score seven goals with four assists. Sigurdsson would likely be a solid addition to a Liverpool side that could use some fresh faces.

Rodgers has agreed not to poach any players from his former club to join him in Liverpool, but since the deal to Swansea is not completed, Sigurdsson will not fall under the terms of the deal.

Rodgers has been in contact with Sigurdsson, and it seems increasingly likely that a move will be finalized.