Swansea City have confirmed their interest in re-signing Joe Allen next season. Club chairman Huw Jenkins spoke to the South Wales Evening Post to confirm their interest.
It’s been going on for quite some time now. Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen has been linked with a move away from the club back to boy-hood side Swansea City and the likelihood of that happening has increased with Chairman of the club, Huw Jenkins declaring the Welsh side’s interest in the player.
“I think it has been well-documented that Joe is going to look at his future when he is finished out at Euro 2016.
“Naturally, we are interested in good players like Joe who may be available this summer given that he has a year left on his contract.
“Obviously we will keep tabs on his situation and see what happens later in the summer,” Jenkins told the South Wales Evening Post.
The Swans tried to push a deal for Allen in the January transfer window, however, failed in their attempts with Liverpool keen to hold on to him due to a congested fixture list and multiple injuries to Jurgen Klopp’s squad. A move now certainly seems possible with the midfielder’s future at Anfield looking rather uncertain.
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On his day, Allen is a hugely influential player for Liverpool. The midfielder can combine both defensive and offensive duties and boasts an elegance on the ball very similar to that of midfield greats Xavi and Andrea Pirlo – thus his nickname “Welsh Xavi” or “Welsh Pirlo”. He is gifted with vision and combines that quality well with his passing ability, whilst his tactical discipline and willingness to work hard has helped him fit in with both former boss Brendan Rodgers, and currently Klopp’s style of play.
In his time with the Reds, the Welshman has hardly ever put a foot wrong. He is one appearance short of a century with 99 games for Liverpool and has found the back of the net just four times for the club, with last last season being his most prolific, scoring three in all competitions.
The 26-year-old has been a good servant for Liverpool and has earned himself a cult following in Merseyside. However, Allen is arguably not the most stunning player and his lack of cutting edge creativity and inability to influence the score-sheet consistently may lead to Klopp allowing him to move on. That would surely make way for a move for a top class box-to-box midfielder, something the club has lacked ever since the departures of Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard.
In fact, a move would probably also suit Allen. Under Klopp and Rodgers, a constant problem for the Welshman has not been injuries but the lack of game time. Moving back to Swansea, where he is loved, cherished and surely guaranteed a regular place in the side would solve that issue.
As Huw Jenkins said, the Welsh club will be keeping tabs on him, hoping that a deal can be struck. If they put the right offer on the table it may only be a matter of when and not if Joe Allen can return to the place he once called home.
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