In January, Joe Allen confirmed that contract talks with Liverpool had 'gone very quiet', and with only one month of the season remaining, the Reds are still stalling on offering the £20m-rated midfielder a new deal.
According to the Liverpool Echo:
"Talks with Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen over his future are on hold until the summer. The manager [Jurgen Klopp] intends to sit down with him at the end of the campaign".
When asked on Saturday about the possibility of Allen receiving a contract extension, Klopp told reporters:
“It is not for me to decide now. Since I’ve been here Joe Allen was too often injured but now he is in a great shape. For me it is not the time for me to talk about this.”
Allen - dubiously described last night as 'irreplaceable' by Wales boss Chris Coleman - is (arguably) one of Liverpool's most improved players this year, but Reds legend Ian Rush is worried that his countryman may decide to quit Anfield this summer. In a recent interview, he told the Wales Online:
"Joe’s frustrated by not being in the team. He is not happy [sitting on the bench], and if he’s not happy then he might well want to move on".
Unless Allen wants to spend the prime years of his career as a bit-part player, moving on is probably the best option, especially with Marko Grujic arriving, and one or two more midfielders on the radar. Just look at this season: endless injuries, 60+ games, and Allen playing the best football of his LFC career, and he's still basically a squad player. How will that change next year with increased competition in midfielder?
Allen is an excellent squad player to have, but he is eminently expendable, and if Liverpool can get £15m+ this summer, then the club should take it. As for where he'll end up - former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is reportedly heading back to Swansea this summer, so a reunion with his old boss seems like an obvious - and sensible - solution.
Author: Jaimie K
According to the Liverpool Echo:
"Talks with Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen over his future are on hold until the summer. The manager [Jurgen Klopp] intends to sit down with him at the end of the campaign".
When asked on Saturday about the possibility of Allen receiving a contract extension, Klopp told reporters:
“It is not for me to decide now. Since I’ve been here Joe Allen was too often injured but now he is in a great shape. For me it is not the time for me to talk about this.”
Allen - dubiously described last night as 'irreplaceable' by Wales boss Chris Coleman - is (arguably) one of Liverpool's most improved players this year, but Reds legend Ian Rush is worried that his countryman may decide to quit Anfield this summer. In a recent interview, he told the Wales Online:
"Joe’s frustrated by not being in the team. He is not happy [sitting on the bench], and if he’s not happy then he might well want to move on".
Unless Allen wants to spend the prime years of his career as a bit-part player, moving on is probably the best option, especially with Marko Grujic arriving, and one or two more midfielders on the radar. Just look at this season: endless injuries, 60+ games, and Allen playing the best football of his LFC career, and he's still basically a squad player. How will that change next year with increased competition in midfielder?
Allen is an excellent squad player to have, but he is eminently expendable, and if Liverpool can get £15m+ this summer, then the club should take it. As for where he'll end up - former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is reportedly heading back to Swansea this summer, so a reunion with his old boss seems like an obvious - and sensible - solution.
Author: Jaimie K
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