Liverpool Trigger Midfielders Release Clause With £15m Offer

Liverpool have moved a step closer to sealing a deal for Sweansea midfielder Joe Allen after they made a £15million offer that will trigger the release clause in his contract.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has made the Wales international a top priority and earlier this month made an opening offer of £12million, which was immediately rejected by Swansea who did not want to lose a player they nurtured through their youth system.

However, the clause in Allen's contract states that he can leave the club if an offer of £15million is made by one of the established top sides in the Premier League, which includes Liverpool.

The deal originally seemed unlikely as Brendan Rodgers had a written agreement with Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins that he would not look to sign players from the Welsh club once he accepted the offer to become Liverpool manager.

It now appears as though this agreement has been waived as the BBC has reported that Jenkins held talks with Allen on Wednesday and Liverpool made their new offer just hours later.

Rodgers is desperate to strengthen his squad and it seems he wants to start with players he knows well, having already signed Fabio Borini who he worked with at Chelsea and Swansea.

Allen certainly benefited from the arrival of Rodgers who straight away made him a pivotal member of the Swansea midfield which received much praise last season for the way that they held onto the ball and controlled games.

Liverpool do have numerous options in the centre of midfield with Steven Gerrard, Lucas Leiva, Jordan Henderson, Jonjo Shelvey and Jay Spearing. Yet, it seems that Rodgers still feels the need to bring in another midfielder.

Allen will almost certainly be competing for a place in the first team as he is a player Rodgers certainly likes and he has shown his quality on the international stage as he impressed for Team GB during the London 2012 Olympics.

The 22-year-old only returned to training with Swansea yesterday and he will now have the opportunity to discuss personal terms with Liverpool after his release clause was activated.