Joe Allen claims he only learned he was leaving Liverpool when a mate text him

Imagine finding out that your employer was planning to get rid of you via text message.

Now imagine that it wasn't even your boss who sent that text message but, rather, a friend who knew more than you about your job future. That seems to be the situation that former Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen found himself in during the summer. Allen, who moved to Stoke for a fee of £13 million, had no idea that he was no longer in Jurgen Klopp's plans. That is, until his phone buzzed to signal the receipt of a text message. “I actually had a text message off a friend congratulating me about making the move when I didn’t even know it was happening at the time,” Allen told the Daily Telegraph. “Not knowing whether the club intend to sell you or keep you, especially when you’re trying to ask the question, is disappointing.

“If I’m honest, to find out they accepted an offer through the press isn’t the best way of going about business, I don’t think," Allen added. "The communication wasn’t great but as soon as Liverpool accepted an offer I knew what their intentions were for me. It was a bit strange but that’s how things happen sometimes. "There was no real goodbye, but I’m not the most sentimental person anyway. It’s irrelevant now because sitting here I’ve got the move I wanted.”

The writing was on the wall for the Welsh Pirlo with the arrival of Georginio Wijnaldum, who joined the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson, Emre Can and Lucas as midfield options for Klopp. And without a guarantee of first-team football at Anfield, Allen revealed that he felt relieved to be given the chance to get his career back on track at the Britannia Stadium. He continued: “I’m not going to be happy unless I’m on the pitch on a regular basis. I’m 26 now and the next four or five years are going to be my best. I’m really excited about this move because the ambition is there to get better. "In the three seasons Mark Hughes has had you’ve seen the progress Stoke have made, the players he’s brought in and the style he has imposed. We’ve finished ninth three seasons running and the aim now is to look at those places above.” Read more