Exclusive: West Ham submitting bid for £15m-valued player in next 48 hours

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:

03 Jan 2020, 1:30 pm

West Ham are preparing to lodge a formal bid for Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen in the next 48 hours, Football Insider can reveal.

The Hammers are among the clubs keen to prise the Wales international midfielder from the Bet365 Stadium this month.

A West Ham source has told Football Insider that the club are ready to submit an offer for Allen as they look to test Stoke's resolve to keep him.

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, value Allen at around the £15million mark.

That is way beyond the price West Ham are willing to pay for the experienced campaigner, as he turns 30 in March and has been playing in the second tier for the last 18 months.

Stoke are braced for an offer considerably below their price tag for the 53-times Wales international.

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

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

Signed in the summer of 2016 for £14million, Allen has also had lengthy and distinguished spells at Liverpool and Swansea City.

In other West Ham news, it can be REVEALED that there has been a Hammers signing this afternoon after terms of new deal agreed.

West Ham United