According to Sky Sports reports Swansea midfielder Joe Allen is on the verge of a £15million move to Premier League rivals Liverpool.
The Welsh international was at Anfield last night to watch Liverpool beat Belarusian side Gomel 3-0 in the Europa League.
Close
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers revealed that the deal was close telling Sky Sports: “ I hope to conclude the deal in the next 24 hours. It is imminent. The fact he was here shows there has been some communication with Swansea.”
Superb
In previous articles about Joe Allen and Liverpool, it may have came across like I’m not a fan of the young midfielder. Far from it I think he is a very good young player. He was superb for Swansea last season in his first season in the Premier League.
He had one of the best passing rates of any midfielder in the European game. I don’t think that stat is a fluke. He has developed into a very competent midfield player.
Potential
He may be rated as a very good player now, but he holds the potential to get even better in the future. At 22 years-old he is still a young player learning his trade and I think Liverpool is probably as good a place as any to develop his potential.
Fulcrum
I hope that Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is going to allow Allen to become the fulcrum of the Liverpool midfield. Allen presence in the midfield will allow Steven Gerrard to do what he does best further up the pitch.
Liverpool currently have a lot of central midfielders and there is lots of competition for places. At £15million Liverpool can’t afford to keep Allen on the sidelines he has to be given regular first team football to develop as a player.
Sales?
Liverpool does have a lot of central midfielders. I just wonder if Brendan Rodgers is going to sell some of those players to raise funds to spend elsewhere. The likes of Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson have disappointed since their arrivals last summer.
The return of Brazilian midfielder Lucas from injury will be a welcome one. I think he could play a key part for Liverpool in their midfield in the new season, I don’t think he will be up for sale anytime soon.
However, if I was Charlie Adam or Jordan Henderson I would be worried about my future at Anfield right now.
Improvement
As a neutral I really do think Joe Allen is an improvement on Henderson and Adam. They may be different sorts of players, but I’d have Allen in my team over the pair any day of the week. Allen will improve the Liverpool midfield.
Value
Some Liverpool fans are questioning the fee of £15million. Some are even suggesting that history is repeating itself, in that the Reds boss is overspending on an average British player. I’d suggest that the fee is a big investment for a club who don’t seem to currently have major spending power.
However, it’s an investment in the future of the club. Joe Allen does have the potential to be an even better player in the future. If he was a foreign star I don’t think people would be asking the same questions about his fee.
Positive
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has came into the club and is trying to implement his style of play on the team. The signing of Joe Allen could just be one of steps to success for the new boss and the club. Lots of Liverpool fans are being negative about the signing of Joe Allen.
Liverpool fans need to start being more positive about their club. Joe Allen could be a major success at Anfield and then those same people will be praising the lad. Whether Joe Allen will be a good signing for Liverpool remains to be proved, but I think that his signing is a step in the right direction for Liverpool.
Will Joe Allen be a good signing for Liverpool?
