Stoke City lost their status as a Premier League club this weekend as they lost 2-1 to Crystal Palace. They took the lead in the game through their talismanic winger Xherdan Shaqiri but Roy Hodgson’s side staged a comeback and registered a win in the end.
As a result of relegation, Stoke city can lose some of their key players as a number of them will be having hopes of playing in the top division. One of the players who can leave the club is Joe Allen and according to reports, Newcastle United are interested in him. However, they will have to fight for his signature as a host of other clubs are also after his signature.
Newcastle United, on the other hand, have punched above their weight this season as they are currently in the top half of the table. Rafael Benitez has worked wonders with their current squad and that too on a limited transfer budget.
However, the Spanish mastermind is well aware of the fact that the squad needs improvement in almost every department, especially in the midfield, if they want to continue to be in the English top flight for years to come. The Potters are not going to let Allen go for cheap, as they are demanding £20m for the Wales international.
The signing of Joe Allen will certainly bolster Benitez’s options in the midfield and the Welshman can reunite with his former Swansea City team-mate Jonjo Shelvey at St. James’s Park. Shelvey has been a revelation for Benitez this term as he has pulled the strings from the middle of the park and has played a major role in helping the Magpies end the season in a comfortable position.
Allen is a technically gifted player and can play the role of a central midfielder to perfection. He has the eye for a pass and his distribution skills are top notch. He might not possess the muscle and physical presence which sometimes is required in the middle of the park but he can outshine the opposition players through his simple play and vision.
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The Magpies might be a bit susceptible in paying the quoted amount for the 28-year-old midfielder but such is the day and age today that one needs to shell out such amount for such a player who has ample experience in the English top flight.
