Allen transfer dead?

It would appear as though Liverpool have an even harder task if they want to land Joe Allen, with the Swansea midfielder’s agent claiming that his client has not handed in a transfer request. Speculation has been mounting that the Reds are set to bid for Allen, although there appear to be numerous stumbling blocks that could scupper the transfer.

Allen, who became a Premier League sensation under Brendan Rodgers at the Liberty Stadium last term, has attracted interest from several clubs and would probably command a fee between £10m-£15m. However, one of the biggest problems with the transfer is the clause that Swansea initiated when Rodgers left to take up his position at Anfield. It stated that no player could leave to join Liverpool – IF the Reds were the first team to bid. Admittedly, it appears negotiations could smooth out this concern, although the transfer would likely be at an inflated cost.

However, it also seems as though Allen is not as desperate for a move as speculation first suggested. When asked if his client had handed in a transfer request, agent Glenn Corcoran said, “Joe has not handed in a transfer request of any kind.”

As it stands, the Reds have not made an enquiry for the 22-year-old, with Swans chairman Hugh Jenkins confirming this to This Is South Wales, “We have had no contact from Liverpool and we want to retain all of our best young players. That’s all there is to say.”

Of course, the speculation surrounding Allen could merely be due to the young midfielder’s connection with Rodgers. However, he does appear to be the sort of player who would interest the Reds, having made such a big impression last term. He was widely regarded as one of Swansea’s most influential players and the fact that he had one of the best passing percentages in the world speaks volumes about his debut campaign in the top flight.