Report: West Ham United ‘likely’ to target Championship midfielder

Add as preferred source on Google

West Ham United have been described as ‘likely’ to move for Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen this summer by The Telegraph.

Potters boss Nathan Jones is ready to ring the changes at the Bet365 Stadium, and Wales international Allen could be moved on.

Allen has been with Stoke since 2016 following a £13 million transfer from Liverpool (BBC Sport).

He has made 120 appearances for the club and scored 16 goals and assisted 14.

Allen has actually been linked with a move to the Hammers before. In January 2018, The Daily Mail reported that the club were willing to shell out £15 million to sign the ex-Swansea City ace, but the relegation-threatened Potters were adamant he’d be going nowhere.

TBR’s view

Allen only signed a new deal last summer and is under contract until 2022 with Stoke.

That would put West Ham at a disavantage if the club entered talks, as there’d be little chance of a ‘cheap’ deal.

Allen is also being watched by Watford according to The Telegraph meaning the price could be driven up.

That said, Allen showed he can cut it in the Premier League having made 199 appearances in the English top-flight.

He could be a decent squad player for Manuel Pellegrini, especially with Mark Noble not getting any younger.