Liverpool's Joe Allen bid rejected by Swansea
By Ben Smith BBC Sport
25 July 2012 Last updated at 13:17 GMT
Liverpool and Swansea have opened negotiations over a deal for midfielder Joe Allen, 22, but the Anfield club's opening bid has been rejected.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers offered around £10m plus Jonjo Shelvey on loan, but that deal has been turned down by Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins.
Swansea value Allen at £15m and should Liverpool offer that they would trigger a release clause in his contract.
Rodgers and Allen worked closely during the manager's time in south Wales.
Although the new Liverpool manager has an written agreement with Swansea not to return to his former club to try to sign any of their players for the next 12 months, the Welsh club can waive that clause if a deal is deemed to be in the best interests of the club.
While Swansea do not want to lose Allen, who is currently training with the Team GB Olympic squad, they are aware a move to Liverpool interests the player.
Swansea are currently in Colorado on a pre-season tour, with Liverpool based in Boston, Massachusetts as they prepare for the new season.
Earlier this month, Rodgers admitted Allen was a target. He said: "He is a very talented player, which everyone knows, but there is nothing more at the moment. When players come to a club such as Liverpool, it's never straightforward.
"There are always other barriers and difficulties. At this moment, there are ongoing negotiations on a few targets."
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