Liverpool creep ever closer to a £15 million deal for Team GB star
Published:Brendan Rodgers’ chances of making Joe Allen his second signing since being appointed Liverpool manager appear to have increased after his Swansea successor hinted at letting the midfielder decide his own future.
Michael Laudrup admitted that he has yet to talk to the Wales international due to his involvement in Stuart Pearce’s Great Britain Olympic team, for whom he was arguably the top outfield performer in Friday’s 0-2 friendly defeat to Brazil.
However, the Danish coach said that his policy tends to be to empower the player. He said: “You can force players to stay but how does that help? It’s better to find a solution that suits both parties.
“I know you can say that you have players under contract, but we all know how football works. We just have to wait and see if an offer comes and then what will happen.”
Laudrup also revealed that despite holding daily conversations with his chairman Huw Jenkins, he has yet to be informed of any official approach from Liverpool, who are rumoured to be willing to spend £15 million on the composed 22-year-old.
Rodgers’ transfer policy since arriving at Anfield has been to concentrate on trying to buy players that he has worked with in the past.
His first move was a failed attempt to lure Gylfi Sigurdsson to Merseyside after an impressive loan spell at Swansea under his tutelage, and his first addition was Fabio Borini, the young Roma forward that he had coached twice before.
Rodgers has confirmed his interest in Allen and though the former’s Swansea to Liverpool switch involved a contract clause stopping him from taking any players with him, it is felt that the Welsh club would waive it if the price was right.
Liverpool owner John Henry said recently that he won’t demand Champions League qualification from Rodgers in his first season, which is perhaps just as well as they are 19/10 to secure a top-four finish.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
