A FORTNIGHT into his Anfield reign, Brendan Rodgers is plotting his first moves in the transfer market as Liverpool boss.

Hoffenheim’s attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, who was so impressive during his loan spell at Swansea in the second half of last season, appears increasingly likely to join up with his old manager.

Rodgers has compiled a shortlist of targets with a right-sided midfielder and another striker key to strengthening the squad.

All fans love to see their club doing business – it’s a sign of ambition – but just as important for the Northern Irishman this summer is holding on to Liverpool’s prized assets.

On the pitch at least, the opening week of Euro 2012 has been a revelation with so many intriguing battles untainted by cheating players or card-happy officials.

The eyes of the continent are fixed on Poland and Ukraine, and unquestionably one of the tournament’s outstanding performers so far has been Daniel Agger.

It was a source of pride for Kopites to see the Denmark skipper repel Holland’s advances so impressively in his nation’s shock win last weekend. Pre-match Agger had shrugged off the threat of Robin van Persie and then delivered on his promise to keep him quiet with a faultless display.

Agger led by example once again in Wednesday’s cracking tussle with Portugal which saw the Danes fight back from 2-0 down to level, only to concede a heart-breaking late winner.

Of course Reds fans haven’t learned anything new. Any Anfield regular will testify to the fact that when fit Agger is one of the most athletic, composed and classy centre-backs in Europe.

But it seems others are catching up. Agger’s performances at the Euros have earned rave reviews in Spain, fuelling reports that Jose Mourinho wants him at Real Madrid.

There’s nothing to suggest it’s anything other than pure speculation but if Mourinho is keen it wouldn’t be a surprise.

At 27, Agger is entering the peak of his career and has the talent to grace any stage. What club wouldn’t want him?

His current deal at Anfield runs until 2014 and Liverpool are desperate to tie him down to a new contract. Getting Agger to sign a new deal over the coming months is one of Rodgers’ priorities.

Always so comfortable bringing the ball out from the back, Agger appears ideally suited to the philosophy Rodgers intends to bring to Anfield. Few players read the game better and he will have a licence to express himself.

It promises to be a world away from two years ago when he quickly became disillusioned with life under Roy Hodgson after being ordered to repeatedly launch it long. Safety first was alien to him.

Agger will need to be convinced Liverpool are heading in the right direction after the false dawns of recent years.

When the defender arrived for £6million from Brondby in January 2006, he signed for the European champions. Now he’s facing up to a third successive season outside the Champions League.

The only frustration for fans regarding the Dane’s contribution over the past six and a half years has been Agger’s inability to stay fit. From broken metatarsals to back surgery, a catalogue of problems have limited him to 170 appearances.

Last season he had two separate spells on the sidelines after cracking ribs in innocuous incidents yet he still played in 27 league games – his best return since 2006/07.

At times his injury woes have led to people questioning whether Agger is really worth persevering with.

His performances at Euro 2012 have provided an emphatic answer. The sooner Liverpool get him to put pen to paper the better.