West Ham United are preparing a formal offer for Stoke City centre-midfielder Joe Allen, as reported by Football Insider.
What’s the story?
The Hammers are prioritising a centre-midfielder in the January transfer window and Allen, who has 56 caps for Wales, is among their targets.
It has been suggested that the Hammers are preparing a move for the 29-year-old in the coming days, though the Championship side are valuing him at £15m.
Stoke, who currently sit 21st in the table, are readying themselves for an initial offer well below that valuation.
Extortionate pricing
Stoke have already shown an unwillingness to budge on their asking price this season, refusing to take anything less than their valuation in excess of £20m for Jack Butland in the summer, as reported by The Birmingham Mail.
In the end, that pricing saw the England international be forced to stay put and West Ham must take a similar approach if Stoke don’t reduce their demands.
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Football Insider’s report suggests that David Moyes is an admirer of Allen’s game and in fairness, the Welshman has done well in a struggling side.
In 23 Championship starts and one appearance off the bench this term, he has scored three goals, while averaging 2.6 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 0.7 key passes per game, as well as maintaining a pass success rate of 82.2%.
Another midfielder is definitely needed this winter, with Carlos Sanchez being the main backup option behind Declan Rice and Mark Noble.
Considering he has only been afforded 113 minutes of Premier League football this season, it can be suggested that the Hammers require an option they can have a greater reliance on.
However, the Irons can’t allow themselves to be held to ransom in their pursuit of one, with £15m for a 29-year-old in a team near the bottom of the Championship certainly not representing value for money.
In other news, ExWHUemployee has reported another midfielder West Ham are interested in.