Liverpool duo set to depart in search of regular first-team football

Joe Allen looks set to be Liverpool's next departure with Stoke City interested in signing the midfielder. Jurgen Klopp could be willing to let the Welshman leave the club after indicating that he will allow players, who are not regular members of the starting XI, to leave the club during the summer transfer window.

According to The Times, Mark Hughes is keen on signing his compatriot, who played a key role in helping Wales reach the semi-finals at the recently concluded European Championships in France and is willing to part with around £13m ($17m) to beat competition from rival clubs. Swansea City are also said to be big admirers of the midfielder and are keen to bring him back to the Liberty Stadium, but are unable to match Stoke's offer.

Allen struggled to nail down a regular starting place in the team under Klopp last season making just eight starts in the Premier League. He will be keen to play more regularly this season, especially after showing his class at the Euro's and Mark Hughes is keen to add the Wales international to the roster at the Britannia Stadium.

Klopp praised the midfielder following Liverpool's win over Huddersfield Town on Wednesday, but remained coy on a possible departure from the club, maintaining that it was just "transfer rumours". Allen, however, has entered the final year of his contract and there has been no offer of a new deal, which points towards a possible exit.

"There is nothing about this and all the transfer rumours. We cannot comment because we couldn't do anything else all day if we did, so we shouldn't start with this!" Klopp said, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.

"I feel good (about Joe). I like the guy and I really think he is a wonderful football player: I knew this before the European Championships, I saw it during the Euros and I know it now. I have said all I can say about this. It is all about respecting contracts, negotiating or not - whatever - and make a transfer or not. But is it nothing to discuss in public but I've not seen him since the middle of May in Basel, sadly," he added.

Meanwhile, Jon Flanagan could be joining Allen on his way out of Liverpool albeit on a temporary basis. The Liverpool Echo understands that Klopp has offered to allow the right-back to go on loan for a season to earn regular playing time and get back to full fitness after missing most of the last two campaigns due to injury.

Burnley are said to be keen on signing the defender, who signed a new three-year deal with his boyhood club earlier in the year after impressing the manager following his comeback from injury.