Laudrup warns: Allen won't come cheap
Joe Allen, pictured, will not be sold on the cheap says Swansea boss Michael Laudrup
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has warned Liverpool that Joe Allen will not be sold on the cheap.
The saga over Allen's potential switch to join former Swans boss Brendan Rodgers at Anfield has rumbled on over recent weeks, and it is understood the Welsh club rejected an offer worth £12.5million last month. However, Allen's contract is believed to include a release clause of £15million.
"He is worth a lot of money because he's a good player," said Laudrup. "The manager knows him and knows if he wants to change the way Liverpool play he needs a player in the midfield like Joe Allen. But he also knows he's very, very expensive."
Laudrup is keen to hold onto the Wales international, and is set to have talks with the 22-year-old, who signed a four-year contract at the Liberty Stadium last summer, on Wednesday.
But with Liverpool having paid big money to secure Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing last summer, Laudrup has told the Merseyside club that Allen's value is on another level.
He added: "We saw they bought a couple of midfielders in the last few years for a lot of money, but with all due respect Joe is on a level above.
"In my opinion, if one is worth £17m then Joe is worth more, perhaps over £20million. I'm talking as a football man not as a chairman but if the chairman asks my advice then I will tell him the same."
It is understood the offer Swansea rejected last month included Jonjo Shelvey moving on a season-long loan to the Liberty, but Laudrup says he will not accept an offer that includes a player not considered first-choice at Anfield.
When asked about the possibility of an exchange, he said: "If we could have (Luis) Suarez ... We have good players here and they have good players, but I can't see a player not in the starting 11 at Liverpool being in the starting 11 in our team.
"They might want to do it because they can pay less money."
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2 things, first of all, why is all this spam stuff on here about dating and so forth, cant msn do something about it?
Secondly and what this thread is about. Allen might be a decent player, but hardly world class. Yes, we spent big money on midfeilders recently, but we all know that was a mistake and that we paid way over their worth, so lets not fall into that trap again. The offer of 12 mil and a loan player is plenty in my opinion. Its a gamble if Allen will be a top class player and to pay what Laudrup is asking would be absurd.
Being a Liverpool fan, I want Liverpool to buy good players to get us up in the mix, and Allen might be one of those players, but I would prefer to build our team, and not buy it, like Chelsea and City.
This is a propa joke this 20m for allen!! Liverpool are clueless in the transfer market these days theyve been getting stung for years now. henderson had played 1 season full in the prem an commanded a 20m fee, Carroll had only 6 months and commanded 35m!!! yet silva cost city 20m nasri cost 20m (all be it greedy bastard) van der vaart 11m rakitic to sevilla 1.5m, afellay barcelona 6m, and now arsenal have just signed an experienced quality player in carzola for 16.5m yet were about to sign a player for 20m withone years premier league experience who we dont need anyway hes a clone of henderson with his 5yrd passes. we dont need centre mids we need wingers, adam johnson?? hoilett just left on a free im not expecting neymars or hazards but a bit of common sence wouldnt go a miss, mind you we pay the same prices just for poor players
As a Liverpool supporter (and some other Liverpool supporters may disagree with what I am about to say) I dont think Allen is what we need just now. His performances for Swansea and Team GB have been very good but we already have an abundence of midfielders at the club. I dont think he is what Liverpool need just now, he is probably slightly better than some of the players we currently have but IMO we should be looking for more firepower up top as we are still rather weak in that place on the pitch.
Also why did we sell Aquilani then go to buy a player like Allen?? Why didnt Brendan Rodgers give Aquilani a chance to prove himself then decide about replacing him or whatever. I know it freed up some wages but then that 'saving' is then going to be taken up again by Allen. The squad is already too big just now, especially in midfield positions.
I don't understand why some people come on here just to say how rubbish lfc is! I mean if they're that rubbish, they shouldn't be worth the bother right?
Besides we manage to beat most top teams every season, current Carling cup-holder and won the CL only seven years ago.. oh, and got to keep it too.
Not bad for a rubbish team in decline.
The deal will rocket the hotshot's wages to £120,000 a week, putting him on par with the club's big earners like captain Steven Gerrard.................................. hes coming to kick your buts ..yet again
Thats crazy money for a player that has not got the calibre to play at the top level. He would suit Liverpool now but not where they want to be.
If it costs that much for Allen, how many hundreds of millions would it take to build a Liverpool team capable of top 4? More than they are worth!
