Spurs seal Sigurdsson signing
Gylfi Sigurdsson had a spell on loan at Swansea last season but has joined Spurs
Andre Villas-Boas has made Gylfi Sigurdsson his first signing as Tottenham head coach.
The former Chelsea boss was only appointed as Harry Redknapp's successor on Tuesday, but has moved quickly to bring the Hoffenheim midfielder to White Hart Lane. The move secures Sigurdsson's return to the Barclays Premier League, where he impressed so much during the second half of last season on loan at Swansea.
The 22-year-old netted seven times in 19 appearances for the Welsh side and picked up March's Player of the Month award.
Sigurdsson had looked to turn his successful loan spell into a permanent move after Swansea settled on a record-breaking £6.8million fee with Hoffenheim.
The Swans also announced that personal terms had been agreed, but manager Brendan Rodgers' move to Liverpool saw the move falter.
Sigurdsson had been linked with a move to the Reds to rejoin his former manager, but Spurs have swooped to compete the signing of the in-demand midfielder.
The Iceland international originally moved to England in October 2005 when he joined Reading's academy. Sigurdsson spent loan spells at Shrewsbury and Crewe as he looked to establish himself in the Royals' first-team, where he became a key player in the 2009/10 season.
The midfielder won the club's Player of the Year award in what was his only full season for the Berkshire outfit, who sold him to Hoffenheim for a reported £6.5million fee at the start of the following campaign.
The midfielder enjoyed a good start to life at the Rhein-Neckar Arena, but fell down the pecking order and was farmed out on loan to Swansea in January. That move seems to have been the making of a player that many now believe has the ability to replace Luka Modric in the heart of Spurs' midfield.
The Croatia international has long been linked with a move away from the club and made his frustrations clear last summer when he was denied a move to Chelsea. Manchester United and Real Madrid have both been linked with a move for Modric this summer and could yet tempt Tottenham's resolve with big-money offers.
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Johnny Boy
don't get me wrong, i think it's not a bad bit of business on spurs behalf, that's not my problem. my point is just that i think it's saddening to see scenes like this. when it comes down to it swansea threw him a lifeline last season & after he impressed over half a season, he then demands to be their highest paid player. the least he could do would be to thank them by staying there instead of using them as a stepping-stone. the sad reality of football though i guess. it's why i feel sorry for teams like napoli, dortmund & valencia. all sprouted some world class players over the last few seasons, challenged at the top and then have to offload their best players best players to warm the bench at a bigger club. it's true what they say - £££ makes the world go round!
Christopher, what a good and sensible post. A lot of realism there.
He could have stayed and been paid another £11 million for doing nothing via Chelsea, as his contract dictated. But has for gone that to get back into a amangerment job. Been, aparently, for one or two inteviews before, but for whatever reason they haven't paid off.
I bet he learnt alot regards ego's and player power. This added to he undounted skill and knowledge can only be a boon for his future. Think it will be a very sucessful trip, and one that levy and the fans deserve.
Ross & Christopher, as Spurs supporters I am sure you will want to believe that AVB will be making all the decisions, however Mr Levy has made it clear that he wants a Director of football and that the Manager will be running the team decisions only.
Brendan Rodgers turned down the Spurs job for this very reason and to be fair he did the same with LFC for the same reason until the club relented and gave Rodgers full control.
Well we see the critics are spouting none entities All nonsence and ravings about nothings that has been said, let alone happen.
Let's face facts. Both managers have to get a game plan in focus. They have different squads inherited, ones needed to built upon etc. Both with have players with different attributes attitudes and capabilities. To think, for example, that Rogers can just walk into Liverpool and say 'This player and that player are good, we will buy and you lot will have to adapt' is not only rather stupid, but insensible.
Ask AVBOAS. He tried and the owner changed his mind and listen to players ego;s.
Don't think either manager here will experience that for a moment, but they will have to break a few eggshells carefully. Remember Brian Clough at Leeds... Player power, unwilling to try, let alone adapt.
So Roger's view of what he has, and needs, don't include such and such... get over it. Likewise Avboas, he see's what he has, what they can do, or will and can't, or won't do but has to alter to please most, not least himself, then the owner and then the fans. Both must have a cap on what money is, or isn't available etc. etc. So time some to wind their' necks in and let those far more knowleagable, who have been given the jobs, to get on with it. Gosh, I guess Roger ought to just swap the Swansea squad for the Liverpool boys and have done with it, and every one will be happey eh! Get real.
Ross & Christopher, as Spurs supporters I am sure you will want to believe that AVB will be making all the decisions, however Mr Levy has made it clear that he wants a Director of football and that the Manager will be running the team decisions only.
Brendan Rodgers turned down the Spurs job for this very reason and to be fair he did the same with LFC for the same reason until the club relented and gave Rodgers full control.
Ross & Christopher, as Spurs supporters I am sure you will want to believe that AVB will be making all the decisions, however Mr Levy has made it clear that he wants a Director of football and that the Manager will be running the team decisions only.
Brendan Rodgers turned down the Spurs job for this very reason and to be fair he did the same with LFC for the same reason until the club relented and gave Rodgers full control.
John, it may have been on the cards ... but no doubt whatsoever that ABVOAS sealed it. I don't for a minutebelieve that he would be forced, especially this early on, to agree to what he doesn't want. When interviewed he showed what a quick thinking clever person he was.
As in the case of Chelsea he was brought in to rebuild and take the club forward. Here he is to strengthen and take them forward, and build a structure of note for the future. Can't do that unless he has a very large say in any matter. Another reason why he is a great catch for any club, and Levy knows that, and that is A. what he wanted, and B. brought him in for. Arry was too old, besides other criteria motives, to be able to do so.
