Rodgers eyes up reunion at Celtic with international maestro with stunning release fee – report
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is keen on signing Stoke midfielder Joe Allen this summer after the Potters’ relegation to the Championship, according to a report.
The Mirror claims that Brendan Rodgers is hopeful of a reunion with the 28-year-old Welshman, who he managed while at Liverpool.
The report goes on to claim that the recently relegated to the Championship side are willing to listen to offers for the player, and that he has a stunning buy-out clause in his contract of £25million.
Allen was a regular part of the Liverpool side managed by Rodgers who came extremely close to winning the Premier League title in 2014, and he has arguably played his best football under the now Hoops manager.
Football Insider verdict
There is no doubt that Brendan Rodgers would love a reunion with Joe Allen at Celtic. However, the major stumbling block is the huge buy-out clause in the player’s contract. Only clubs with massive amounts of money will be able to pay the £25million, which is way out of the Hoops’ league. The only way Allen could end up playing for the Hoops would be if he signed a loan deal with the Bhoys, which seems highly unlikely. Allen is an excellent player, and would be vital for the Hoops, particularly in Europe, but as ever when it comes to signing players from the Premier League, it comes down to finances. Despite being Champions League regulars, the Hoops just cannot match what the Welshman will be no doubt be offered by clubs in England. As long as the financial gap exists, the chances of the Bhoys making big money moves for players in England are slim to none.
In other Celtic news, John Kennedy has paid tribute to the Hoops’ treble winners
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