Sources: West Ham submit midfielder bid, £8m may now seal deal
Transfers

Sources: West Ham submit midfielder bid, £8m may now seal deal

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on: 

West Ham have submitted a bid for Joe Allen but it's not been accepted by Stoke City, Football Insider can reveal.

The Hammers made a formal move for the Wales international midfielder as they look to prise him from the Bet365 Stadium during this window.

A West Ham source has told Football Insider that the offer is over £5million but is short of Stoke's asking price.

The Championship club had valued Allen at around the £15m mark, but are now ready to slash their asking price to around £8m in a bid to get a deal done.

Stoke are looking to cut costs this month as their hopes of returning to the Premier League at the second attempt following relegation have been left in tatters.

The Championship club, who are 21st in the division, recognise Allen is not only one of their prize assets but also a high earner who is a drain on their resources.

West Ham may be willing to go up towards the £8m mark, especially if they hit a stumbling block in their attempts to land Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes on a loan-to-buy transfer.

As revealed by Football Insider, the Hammers have also entered the bidding for Genk midfielder Sander Berge.

At 21, he is eight years younger than Allen and has the potential to improve, although he lacks the former Liverpool and Swansea City man's extensive Premier League experience.

Allen was previously a target for West Ham during David Moyes' first spell at the club and he remains a big admirer of him.

The Wales international has started 23 of Stoke's 26 league matches this season, and has made 147 appearances in total for the club.

In other West Ham news, it can be REVEALED that the club have opened talks with Joe Cole.

West Ham United
Stoke City
www.footballinsider247.com