Liverpool accept £13m bid from Stoke City for Joe Allen20:57, 20 JUL 2016 UPDATED 20:57, 20 JUL 2016
BY JAMES PEARCE
The Potters have emerged as front-runners to sign the Welshman
Joe Allen is set to leave Liverpool with Stoke City keen to wrap up a £13million deal.The Potters have emerged as the surprise front-runners to sign the Wales international midfielder.
The ECHO understands that talks between the clubs are at an advanced stage with the offer matching the Reds' valuation.
It remains to be seen whether Swansea City, whose initial bid of £8million was rejected last month, respond by matching Stoke's bid.Allen's future has been the subject of speculation all summer as he entered the final year of his existing contract with no new deal on the table.
The 26-year-old, who cost Liverpool £15million from Swansea four years ago, struggled to hold down a regular starting spot following Jurgen Klopp's appointment last season.
Allen, who has made 132 appearances for the Reds, no longer wants to be a squad player and has accepted the need to move on to further his career.
There has been plenty of interest in him following his impressive performances for Wales at Euro 2016 which saw him named in the team of the tournament.
However, as it stands, Stoke are the only club who are close to having an agreement with Liverpool in place.http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-accept-13m-bid-stoke-11643253
