Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Joe Allen and Brad Smith Rumours

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen is edging closer to the Anfield exit door, with the player set to meet Stoke City manager Mark Hughes ahead of a £13 million move.

That’s according to John Percy of the Daily Telegraph, who stated the transfer should be completed by Tuesday, with the Welshman said to be excited about working under his compatriot. Swansea City, from whom Liverpool landed Allen in 2012, are also said to still be in the running for the midfielder.

Since the departure of former Reds boss Brendan Rodgers last October, Allen has fallen down the pecking order at Liverpool. The emergence of Emre Can, plus the signings of Marko Grujic and Georginio Wijnaldum cast further doubts over the 26-year-old’s prospects of regular football next term under manager Jurgen Klopp.

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Should Stoke get this deal over the line, they’ll feel as though they’ve picked up a bargain, especially after Allen's standout showings for Wales at this summer’s UEFA European Championship.

While he’s often hailed for his calmness in possession, as these numbers from OptaJoe suggest, there is a steeliness to Allen’s game too, making him a considerable defensive asset:

Liverpool don’t possess too many proven holding midfielders. Lucas Leiva has struggled with injuries, Grujic is untested in the Premier League and Can seems more at ease when given licence to roam forward. So it’ll be intriguing to see which player Klopp tasks with shielding the back four during 2016-17.

It was a role Allen carried out with distinction last term in the red of Liverpool and Wales, meaning plenty who frequent Anfield will be disappointed to see him depart the club. Still, with just one year remaining on his contract and the prospect of a more significant role at a different club, the move makes plenty of sense for the player.

Brad Smith Set for Exit

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According to James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, Brad Smith is set to leave Liverpool for Bournemouth after a £6 million bid was accepted for the left-back.

As noted by Pearce, Smith looks set to follow Jordon Ibe from Merseyside to the south coast; the winger made the same switch for £15 million earlier in the summer. However, it’s suggested Liverpool have included a buyback clause in the deal and would also be entitled to a cut of any transfer fee Bournemouth receive for the player further down the line.

The 22-year-old was previously tipped for big things at Anfield, having impressed in the youth setup and in his 11 senior appearances for the club. However, he’s been unable to oust the much-maligned Alberto Moreno from the left side of the defence.

Despite both Smith and Ibe's potential, Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe feels the Reds have done well to bring in £21 million from the Cherries for the two players:

While it’s debatable whether Smith's transfer represents value for money for Eddie Howe’s side, it leaves Liverpool with even fewer options in the left-back positions. Given Moreno’s unconvincing performances toward the back end of last season, it’s an area of the team Klopp will surely seek to address before the transfer window shuts on August 31.

For Liverpool, the Australia international is set to become another player from the academy who has failed to make a prolonged step up to the first team; he will follow Ibe, Joao Teixeira and Sergi Canos out of the club this summer, with none of the youngsters able to make good on their potential with the club.