Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen could complete his £13 million move to Stoke City this week, with talks scheduled for Sunday.
The 26-year-old is poised to leave the Reds this summer, with a number of clubs interested in securing his signature following a strong 2015/16 campaign.
Allen has just one year left on his current contract, and despite Jurgen Klopp‘s admiration of his talents, finds himself surplus to requirements.
As a result, Liverpool accepted Stoke’s big-money bid on Wednesday night, with Allen now free to discuss personal terms with the Potters, which will take place on Sunday.
Stoke manager Mark Hughes will be present, and Allen could join his ambitious side in the next two days.
According to the Telegraph‘s John Percy, Allen is “keen to work under Hughes.”
Hughes is a former Wales international midfielder, like Allen, and has overseen significant development at the Britannia Stadium in recent seasons.
The prospect of taking up a key role under Hughes should be an enticing one for Allen, though whether he would prefer a return to former club Swansea City remains to be seen.
Reports on Friday revealed that the Swans are weighing up a matching bid for their academy graduate, who left to join Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool in 2012.
Meanwhile, the Mirror‘s Neil Moxley claims that the Reds have negotiated two lucrative clauses in their agreement with Stoke, meaning they could receive a further £2 million in the coming years.
This would come if Stoke remain in the Premier League, and if they better last season’s 10th-placed league finish.
In all likelihood, Hughes will lead his side to further success, meaning that the Reds could take a sizeable fee for a bit-part player with just 12 months left on his contract.
Though Allen’s departure will be a disappointment, it serves as another example of Liverpool’s exceptional business this summer.
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