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Rodgers frustrated by inflated transfer prices

Joe Allen is Brendan Rodgers' second signing of the summer © PA Photos

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Brendan Rodgers has revealed that his attempts to strengthen Liverpool's squad are being held up by the high prices quoted for his transfer targets.

Rodgers signed Joe Allen from his former club Swansea on Friday after meeting a £15 million release clause in the midfielder's contract but the only other signing Liverpool have made this summer is striker Fabio Borini, brought in from Roma for £11 million.

Rodgers wants to make further additions, with Fulham attacker Clint Dempsey among the options he is considering. But the Northern Irishman says that he has been asked to pay inflated prices for players since arriving at Anfield from Swansea in June.

He told the Daily Mail: "It's absolutely incredible. It's always complex at a big club but what I've learned here very quickly is that the minute Liverpool are interested, it adds about two noughts on to the price tag of a player.

"It's probably a wee bit frustrating for everyone, including myself, that we haven't got signings coming in quicker, but I think we've seen the squad we've got here already is a good one, I'm just trying to improve it a little.

"I don't know if I expect more signings to follow rapidly after Joe arrives, but certainly our hunt continues."

In addition to Dempsey, Rodgers has also looked at Real Madrid's Nuri Sahin, and has been linked with Arsenal's Theo Walcott, Barcelona's £7 million-rated winger Cristian Tello and Wolves goalkeeper Dorus de Vries, who played under Rodgers during Swansea's Championship promotion season of 2010-11.

Rodgers added: "I said when I first came in my objective was to build a squad that was going to be competitive. Hopefully between now and the end of August we can get some more players in who can help the players we have here. That would be great."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.