Tottenham Hotspur have moved ahead of Liverpool and Swansea City in the pursuit of Gylfi Sigurdsson after agreeing a €10m (£8m) fee with Hoffenheim for the Iceland midfielder.

Spurs, who are without a manager, hope to complete a deal for the coveted 22-year-old by the end of this week, but they have still to agree personal terms with the player. Their approach to Hoffenheim comes amid serious doubts over the future of Luka Modric at White Hart Lane, with Real Madrid linked with the Croatian.

Liverpool had been confident of signing Sigurdsson following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as manager. The midfielder flourished under Rodgers on loan at Swansea last season and the pair have spoken several times since a proposed £6.8m transfer to the Liberty Stadium collapsed as a result of the manager's departure for Anfield.

Michael Laudrup, Rodgers's replacement at Swansea, has conceded defeat in attempting to resurrect a permanent move to south Wales for the Iceland international. Liverpool's interest in Sigurdsson remains but the club fear that Spurs are firm favourites to complete the deal.