LIVERPOOL TRANSFER RUMOURS: Sigurdsson, Carroll, Davies and Skrtel Involved In Recent Speculation

The wait goes on for Liverpool's first signing under new boss Brendan Rodgers. It had been expected that Gylfi Sigurdsson would reunite with the former Swansea boss at Anfield, but it has now been confirmed that the attacking midfielder has instead signed for Tottenham.

Rodgers has been explaining the reasons behind the surprising turn of events. The Northern Irishman claims that a package had been put in place for the Iceland international and that he wasn't prepared to increase the financial package on offer to lure him to Merseyside.

I knew what the market was and I wasn't prepared to pay anything over what I had known was agreed before, Rodgers said, according to TalkSport.

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.

The news will be an undoubted blow to Rodgers, with Sigurdsson having the potential to add a vital creative and goal-scoring element to Liverpool's midfield.

Rodgers has admitted that his arrival at the club already into the summer has made it hard to get deals wrapped up.

This window for the summer, you either had to get your business in early or it was going to run over towards the end of the window, just purely because of all the games and holidays and championships, and everything that was going on, he said, according to Sky Sports.

The Reds have been linked with a move for Bolton's technically-gifted midfielder Mark Davies, but the Trotters have denied any contact.

I can tell you there's been absolutely no phone calls, no dialogue, nothing about Mark Davies, said Bolton boss Owen Coyle, according to Sky Sports.

It's the usual paper speculation and conjecture.

If anybody out there thinks any of our players will be leaving on a whim then they're sadly mistaken.

With Liverpool failing to qualify for the Champions League again next season, as well as problems tempting new talent, the club may also struggle to hold onto some of their existing players.

The Sun has reported that Serie A giants Milan are interested in target man Andy Carroll. The tabloid carries quotes from the son of Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi, Pier Silvio, whom it is claimed has acted as a consultant on the club's transfers.

As a future target I'd like Andy Carroll, he said.

I must admit that, for his body build, and after seeing his header in the Euros, I would like to have Carroll at Milan.

There certainly could be a possibility of Carroll not fitting into Rodgers' possession-based style, but, despite a positive last few months, a move to Milan looks a little far-fetched.

One man Liverpool certainly won't want to lose is defender Martin Skrtel. The Slovakian had his best season at Anfield last term and it is little surprise that there are reports of him being linked to several big clubs. The Daily Mail claims that the 27 year old is being pursued by Napoli. While the Partenopei have money to spend following their sale of Ezequiel Lavezzi, it is highly doubtful that Skrtel would move to another club that cannot offer Champions League football next season.