Liverpool have accepted a £13million bid for Joe Allen from Stoke City, according to Sky Sports.
The Welshman seemed destined to leave after making just eight Premier League starts last season, although his exploits at Euro 2016 might have given Jurgen Klopp enough reason to keep him at Anfield.
Instead, he is now set for the Bet365 stadium, where it will be interesting to see how his passing style of play fits in with Stoke’s new-found, actually-playing-football-instead-of-rugby approach.
Allen is a tough tackler, nonetheless, so he will add plenty to Mark Hughes’ midfield.
Stoke will have done well to capture Allen and now must agree personal terms as he undertakes a medical.
Sevilla, Swansea, and West Ham were all reportedly interested, but the Potters have shown their ambition in targeting Allen at a time when he is so highly-rated, having even earned a spot in UEFA’s Team of the Tournament at the Euros.
Meanwhile, Liverpool fans will be forced to watch on as he shows what might have been. The Reds’ midfield is far from infallible and Allen could surely have had a role to play next season, but it seems Klopp made his mind up on this one long ago.
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