Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers poised to trigger midfielder Joe Allen's £15m exit clause at Swansea City

Liverpool look increasingly likely to sign Swansea’s Joe Allen due to a £15 million exit clause triggered in the midfielder’s contract.

Red alert: Liverpool target Joe Allen (right), playing for Team GB, tackles Neymar of Brazil Photo: GETTY IMAGES

It has emerged the Welsh club are bound to allow Allen to leave if any of five clubs - Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal - meet the valuation.

In what has become a complicated deal, other clubs outside those five could bid less for the 22 year-old and conclude his transfer, but it is clear reuniting with former manager Brendan Rodgers is the Welshman’s intention.

Liverpool are hopeful they will not have to pay as much as £15 million once Swansea City accept the player is destined for Anfield, but they may now have to go that high to conclude negotiations. Rodgers made it clear last week that if the player was subject to bids from elsewhere he would make his move for the youngster, who is on Olympic duty with Great Britain.

There is plenty of interest in the Welshman, outstanding in his debut season in the Premier League. The only delay at the moment is the fee.

It is a strange anomaly that Tottenham, who finished above Liverpool in the Premier League for the past two years, could technically bid below the stipulated fee than the five clubs named in Allen’s contract.

The Telegraph