Swans favourite on his way

Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen is on the verge of completing a £15m move to Liverpool after checking in at Anfield for final talks.

The Welsh international was an interested spectator in the stands as the Reds won 3-0 against FC Gomel last night to book their place in the play-off round of the Europa League. Allen is expected to be handed a massive pay-rise as he looks to be reunited on Merseyside with former Swans manager Brendan Rodgers, after making 150 appearances for the South Wales outfit. Liverpool have been trying to push through a deal for the 22-year-old for some time but were reluctant to splash out the full £15m release clause in the player's contract to get their man. However, that stumbling block was finally overcome on Thursday with Allen telling the club's chairman Huw Jenkins and boss Michael Laudrup of his desire to move on. Jenkins has previously insisted that he and Rodgers shared a 'gentleman's agreement' which prevented the new Reds chief from signing players from his former club for 12 months, but Allen's clause, and his eagerness to join Liverpool has overridden that.