Manchester United Transfer News: Joe Allen Interest Reported Amid Latest Rumours

Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen, who is also being linked with a return to Swansea City.

According to Mat Davies of the South Wales Evening Post, United are weighing up a move for the Welshman, who has less than one year left on his deal at Anfield.

Former Reds boss Brendan Rodgers took the 26-year-old with him when he joined Liverpool from the Swans in 2012. It was the manager who dubbed Allen "the Welsh Xavi," in comparison with the Barcelona legend, and the nickname, combined with his early struggles at Anfield, led to him becoming a figure of fun among supporters.

Indeed, many United fans would likely scoff at the idea of signing him even without his Liverpool connections.

However, his recent form for the Reds and Wales has seen him transformed into a cult hero—and deservedly so.

The midfielder enjoyed a phenomenal European Championship with the Dragons, helping to control the play in the centre and regain possession for his side.

Squawka Football and WhoScored.com revealed some of his impressive stats:

His efforts earned him a fully deserved place in the official Team of the Tournament:

Allen's performances at Euro 2016 were hardly surprising; his return to form under Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been impressive, and he was one of the Anfield side's top performers in the latter half of the season, standing out almost every week.

Bleacher Report UK's Jack Lusby is hopeful he'll stay put:

Per Sky Sports News HQ, Klopp is hoping to "find solutions" to Allen's expiring contract:

Players are usually available at a cut price when their contracts are coming to an end so their clubs can avoid losing them for free, but the Reds aren't likely to make things easy for their rivals if they do attempt to sign him.

Given how good he's been, Liverpool would be wise to offer him a new deal rather than sell him, regardless of who's interested.

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Meanwhile, a player most Red Devils fans would prefer to sign—and would be far more expensive—is Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

United boss Jose Mourinho is reportedly "convinced" the Frenchman will join, per French outlet L'Equipe (h/t Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News).

If he does, he would join pre-season signings Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan at the club, and his capture would likely round off United's major business this summer.