Why West Ham should beat off competition for Stoke City star Joe Allen
According to Wales Online, Stoke City star Joe Allen could be set for a move away from the bet 365 Stadium during the upcoming January transfer window, with plenty of Premier League clubs interested in the Welshman.
The 29-year-old had expressed his desire to continue playing with the Potters following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2017-18 campaign, provided they showed genuine signs of mounting a meaningful push for promotion (h/t Wales Online).
However, when Stoke City finished in 16th place last season, the Potters hierarchy stated that they wouldn’t stand in Allen’s way should some of the bigger clubs come calling for his services (h/t Wales Online).
As per the report, the Potters did open the door for the Welshman to secure an exit this past summer. Their asking price of £18million was not met by any of the suitors, however.
Now, with Stoke still languishing in the bottom half of the standings and the ignominy of relegation to the third-tier continuing to loom large even after the arrival of Michael O’Neill as the new manager, the Potters might have to find a way to balance their books and cut down their wage bills.
To that end, Joe Allen could be sacrificed in the upcoming transfer window to facilitate reinvestment and cut the losses (h/t Wales Online).
Stoke City posted staggering losses of over £30 million during their final season in the top-flight and with the club failing to mount a promotion push in the Championship so far, cost-cutting continues to high on the board’s agenda.
With that in mind, West Ham should capitalize on Stoke City’s ongoing financial situation by making a move to sign Joe Allen during the mid-season trading period.
The 29-year-old has been one of the brightest sparks in an otherwise listless Potters’ side over the past 12 months.
Meanwhile, West Ham have suffered a significant fall in grace following a promising first couple of months in the ongoing campaign, with the Hammers currently languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League.
Neither the defenders nor the attackers have done enough so far this term and the central midfield continues to be a problem area for Pellegrini moving forward, with Declan Rice and veteran Mark Noble the only realistic options available at the manager’s disposal.
With Noble reaching the twilight of his career at 32, Carlos Sanchez out of contract in 2020 and Jack Wilshere yet to sort out his injury woes, Joe Allen certainly has the experience to thrive under Pellegrini.
Having previously played in the Premier League with Stoke City, Liverpool and Swansea City, Allen is definitely a proven performer at this level.
Verdict
Allen is capable of making an immediate difference in Pellegrini’s midfield, which is exactly what West Ham need at the moment to climb up the table.
More West Ham News
- Why West Ham must offload flop star Roberto in January without hesitation
- Why signing Everton could offer West Ham more options in attack
- Why West Ham should go for Wolves goalkeeper John Ruddy in January
Having said that, the 53-cap Welsh international is certainly worth a punt for the Hammers in January.