Stoke have told West Ham that they will not sell Joe Allen for any price this month as the bid to ensure there is no repeat of the Marko Aruaotivic saga.
Mark Hughes – assuming he holds onto the manager’s job at the Bet 365 Stadium – sees Allen as vital to his survival bids and is reported to have waved away a £15 million bid.
Allen has been regularly linked with the Hammers since David Moyes identified the midfield area as his priority for the window although he has regularly declare it may not be possible to being in players.
Hughes, meanwhile, remains on the thinnest of ice but things could change quickly if he is axed after leading the club into serious relegation trouble.
He has been at the centre of crowd protests and has angrily reacted to questions over his future explaining that he is the best person to sort the issues.
However, the Hammers are keeping the position under keen scrutiny!
Sorry if it is just me being thick but what does it mean when it says ‘To ensure there is no repeat of the MA saga’? They sold him we bought him. Is it a reference to the bad feeling at the Stoke game?