Rumour Mongering: Joe Allen Bidding War?

Loveable as he is, and despite a nice run of league games towards the end of the season as Jürgen Klopp focused more and more on the Europa League, Joe Allen accumulated only 1800 mintues of first team football last year and does not seem to be a certain starter in his manager's eyes. This hasn't prevented him from becoming a key player and influential figure for his international team as they look to carry their momentum from the group stage into the round of 16 and beyond.

With his contract running out next year and new talks yet to start, and as Liverpool continue to be linked with players who would become instant competition for Welsh Jesus, it seems probable that the club would be willing to let him go this summer, rather than risk him walking away on a free transfer in a year's time.

Reports of interest from Sevilla are almost certainly pure fabrication, and while a return to Swansea has long been rumoured, Liverpool supposedly turned down an £8m bid from Allen's former club earlier in the month. As the transfer wheel turns, the demand for a plug-and-play central midfielder with a proven track record in the Premier League is starting to grow. Managerless Southampton sold their first-choice defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama to Tottenham on Thursday, and reigning champions Leicester seem unlikely to hold on to N'Golo Kanté through the summer as he tears up the Euros for France. According to the Times, both clubs are now taking long, flirty looks in Allen's direction.

Able to do a job as a deep midfielder, a shuttler or a secondary attacking midfielder, the Welsh Pirlo should certainly be able to establish himself as a starter for any number of Premier League sides. A situation where there is concrete interest from several parties also puts both the player and his current club in a strong position when negotiating fees and wages. In the end, this might just end up as one of those best for all parties affairs, where Liverpool get a decent fee for a player who has done a job for the club, but won't get the minutes he wants in the future, the player gets a salary raise and an increase in playing time, and the buying club gets a terrific player with a sublime beard game.

Losing that top knot is gonna be rough, though.