JOE ALLEN has raised new doubts over his Liverpool future – putting Premier
League rivals on alert.
The 26-year-old midfielder made just eight Premier League starts for Jurgen
Klopp’s side last season and is desperate to play regular first-team
football.
Allen, who previously spoke to the Liverpool
hierarchy about his future in January, has only a year left on his current
deal but has revealed there will be no contract talks with the Anfield
outfit until after the Euros.
The Welshman is keen to focus on the tournament in France with Chris Coleman’s
men before any discussions on Merseyside take place, which will encourage
ex-club Swansea who are interested in re-signing the £15million man.
Allen said: “I’m sure it is something the club will have on their to-do
list at some point. As soon as the season finished with Liverpool I said to
myself, ‘I don’t want to have any distractions and I am fully focussed and
engaged on purely all things Wales.’ That’s where I am at the moment.
“If the club want to speak to me then I am not going to pie them. We have
had an intense season and I’m sure there will be a week or two after the
Euros before any discussions are had.
“I think it hinges on the pre-season plans and what exactly the club are
hoping to do, everything comes into that.
“The
acquisitions and who they are going to get in and until all that happens
then it is difficult to answer. But the club understand I want to play.”
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Allen’s future was discussed with Klopp and Liverpool chief
executive Ian Ayre during a meeting in January.
He added: “There was a conversation with the club in terms of what the
future did hold for me, if I would feature more or if I would feature in the
plans moving forward. They made it clear at that stage I wouldn’t be moving
anywhere. It was with Klopp and Ian Ayre in January.
“I knew where I stood and it was good to have that conversation and know
that I had the second half of the season to look forward to with Liverpool.
“The support from the Liverpool fans has been brilliant and a huge boost
in the last few months. It’s always great for a player, it always helps you
when you step out on the pitch and I’ve enjoyed that and made things easier.
“At times I was tested through the year. As a footballer you want to play
every minute of every game.
“When you don’t it can be disappointing but that’s natural. It’s how you react
and you have to make sure you don’t let it affect you to a point that when
you do get your chance you’re not up to it.”
Allen, preparing for the summer with Wales on their five-day pre-Euro training
camp in the Algarve, is ready to bounce back after suffering double cup
final blows in the League Cup and Europa League to Manchester City and
Sevilla.
He said: “What was great about the second half of the season was all the
different competitions and how far we went and there was so much to play for.
“Every player in the squad had a part to play. It wasn’t just a case of
cheering on the lads and watching them do the business. It was a group
effort.
“We have grown as a team. I think every individual can mark progress in
their game. It’s about working together for longer, getting a style of play
that everyone is getting more experienced at.
“People have talked about the improvement in my game this year but it’s
almost a back-handed compliment in some ways.
“In the first half of the season I hadn’t played. I’m 26, not 36, so I am
still developing and improving.
I’d be very disappointed if I said at the end of any year that I hadn’t
improved as the season had gone on.”