da esoccer bet： According to reports in the Daily Mail, West Ham United are willing to pay £15m to sign Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen, but the struggling Potters have insisted that the Wales international is not for sale.
What’s the word, then?
da 888casino： Well, the Daily Mail says that Irons boss David Moyes is desperate to strengthen in central midfield during the January transfer window – Pedro Obiang and Cheikhou Kouyate were disappointing in there once again during the vital 2-1 win against West Bromwich Albion at the London Stadium on Tuesday night – and he wants Allen.
The Daily Mail says that Moyes is looking for one or two players with Premier League experience, and he is willing to pay £15m to bring the Welshman to the capital.
However, the report adds that the 18th-placed Stoke have responded to an initial enquiry by saying the 27-year-old is not for sale this month at any price.
How has Allen done this season?
He has done well, even though Stoke have spent much of the campaign struggling down the wrong end of the Premier League table.
The Wales international is one of the club’s most consistent performers, and he has scored one goal and provided a further four assists after featuring in both a central attacking midfield position as well as deeper role in the centre of the park this term.
Comfortable on the ball, good at passing and with that creative ability, he is a sometimes underrated player at this level.
Would he be a good signing for West Ham?
He certainly would be.
Having played 183 Premier League games in his career for Swansea, Liverpool and now Stoke he has that top flight experience that Moyes is looking for, while he can make a difference for the Irons with his ability on the ball and his work rate.
As we mentioned previously, the likes of Obiang, Kouyate and Mark Noble have often struggled in the middle of the park this term, and Allen would provide some much-needed quality and competition for places.
Will they get him this month?
It’s difficult to say.
Considering Stoke are 18th they are unlikely to sell one of their best players for £15m when they are battling the drop, and it would take a considerably bigger offer to convince them to cash in on the 27-year-old.
A move looks unlikely in that sense, but with Mark Hughes’ future in doubt and the potential that Allen could ask for a move away considering the Potters’ troubles, you can never say never.