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“Woulda loved this headline in 2009” – Loads of NUFC fans react as Toon linked with £18m man

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Loads of Newcastle United fans have been reacting on social media after reports by Wales Online suggested the Toon are one of several sides interest in signing Stoke City’s Joe Allen.

Speculation surrounding the midfielder’s future at the bet365 Stadium is expected to intensify as we get closer to the winter market, as Allen’s desire to secure a Premier League return ahead of next summer’s European Championship is said to be one of Welsh football’s worst kept secrets.

Several top-flight sides have been credited with holding an interest in the 29-year-old, with Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United, Burnley and the Toon all mentioned in recent reports.

The arrival of Steve Bruce at St. James’ Park in the summer could see that he pushes for a winter move for Allen to join us on Tyneside come January, but faces having to pay around £18million.

Stoke slapped that asking price on Allen earlier this year to ward off the chances of him leaving the Potters, at a time they promised to produce a meaningful promotion challenge that has not yet emerged.

Allen is also one of the Championship side’s highest-earners on a deal worth £50,000-per-week, and freeing those kind of wages from the Potters’ expenditure as their Premier League parachute payments reduce is seen as something that must occur sooner rather than later.

Would you sign Joe Allen in January?

Yes, he'll offer something different

Yes, but he's not worth £18million

No, he isn't good enough for us

January departures are likely going to be one of the bet365 Stadium side’s top priorities next month, as Financial Fair Play punishments are a possibility after posting losses of £30m shortly before their fall into the second-tier.

Allen has featured in 20 of Stoke’s 22 Championship fixtures this season, starting 19, as the Potters sit inside the relegation places. In those, the 56-cap Wales international has averaged 3.1 tackles, 1.9 interceptions, 0.6 dribbles, 1.1 shots and 0.7 key passes, per WhoScored data.

Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to the Toon being linked with Allen…

In other Newcastle United news, a 22-cap international would be open to securing a permanent transfer to St. James’ Park in January.

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