Joe Allen is set to leave a Liverpool after the Merseysiders accepted a £13m bid from Stoke City for the midfielder. The Welshman joined the Reds in 2012 from Swansea £15m under Brendan Rodgers. Since his arrival, Allen has made 91 league appearances for Liverpool, scoring 4 goals. Despite not being a regular starter, he has been a reliable squad player for the team, putting in an admirable shift on the field when called upon.
Allen had a brilliant run out at Euro 2016 with Wales in what was the country’s first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup. The ‘Welsh Xavi’ as he is fondly called helped guide his team to the tournament’s semifinal for the first time ever. His performances were so impressive that he was included in the team of the tournament. However, with only one year remaining on his contract, the Liverpool management felt that the offer of £13m was too good to pass up.
The 26-year-old’s former club Swansea City have also expressed interest in signing him, with club chairman Huw Jenkins claiming that they’re ‘still in the hunt’. However, if they are serious about it though, they will need to act fast, as talks between Stoke City and Liverpool are already at an advanced stage. With new owners on board at Swansea City, they will be looking to invest their money in the right players for the squad.
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"We've had discussions with Liverpool and there's been stuff in the press recently about Stoke," said Huw Jenkins.
"Joe is away as far as I know because, like our players, he's finished the Euros and then needs so many weeks off.
"Over the next week or 10 days things may move on, but we must remember we have a full complement of midfield players as it is.
"We're still in the hunt. Joe is one of our players and we'll keep that open for as long as we can.
"I think £13 million is probably a high valuation for a player with a year left in his contract. But with the market as it is, we've all seen some values put on players, it's not unrealistic.
"It's a high valuation, but the market has gone that way."
Allen’s popularity among the Liverpool fanbase has been on an upward trajectory - particularly in the 2015/16 season. However, some believe that he is not the player to take the next step forward with the club. He was growing into something of a hero among supporters, but many feel it is the right time to part ways with the player.
