Article by Dean Carr of SBAT.com
Celtic have been told Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen won’t come cheap, amidst rumours manager Brendan Rodgers is aiming to strike a third reunion with the player.
Allen, 26, worked with the Welsh international at Swansea City before then spending £15 million to take the midfielder – whom he dubbed ‘the Welsh Xavi’ – to Anfield with him when he took over as Liverpool boss in 2013.
He has established himself as a cult hero on Merseyside in recent years and his performances improved under new manager Jurgen Klopp, but with the Reds looking to strengthen over the summer Allen’s future has been cast into doubt.
With only one year left on his current contract he may be available for a cut price but the player’s agent agent Glenn Corcoran has warned the Scottish champions that his wages could prove to be a stumbling block.
“If Liverpool were willing to sell – and that is a big ‘if’ because I’ve not had that conversation with the club – they would ask for too much money for him,” he told the Daily Record.
“I don’t know if Celtic at this moment would be willing to spend that sort of money and the wages would also be a massive issue.”
Celtic do have the lure of Champions League football to offer Allen next season – albeit starting in the playoff rounds – and no European football at Liverpool could see his game time restricted further.
But it seems talk of a move to Parkhead remains slightly naive with Corcoran admitting he and his client are yet to hold talks with the club regarding his future.
“This is the first I have heard of this. Joe has a year left on his contract at Liverpool and nobody has spoken to us about extending that.
“The club have not spoken to us about selling him either.
“I haven’t given any thought whatsoever to it with regards to Celtic or any club.”
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