Manchester United weigh up SHOCK £20m move for Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen

Posted Wednesday, August 27, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

Louis Van Gaal is weighing up a shock £20m move for Liverpool star Joe Allen.

TARGET: Van Gaal fancies Allen to plug the midfield gap at United

The new Manchester United boss wants to boost his ailing midfield and had Allen watched in the Reds 3-1 defeat at champions Manchester City on Monday night.

And Wales skipper Allen could be open to becoming the first Anfield player to move to Old Trafford since England international centre back Allenby Chilton 76 years ago.

Even though the 24-year-old started against City at the Etihad, Allen may feel his place in the Liverpool side is not guaranteed following a raft of signings.

Last season he was regularly subbed or left on the bench by boss Brendan Rodgers.

Allen impressed Van Gaal with an excellent performance in Wales' last game, a June World Cup 2-0 defeat by Holland in Amsterdam.

United inquired about Allen prior to him joining Liverpool two years ago but baulked at the £15m transfer fee.

But United are a club in crisis right now and badly need bolstering in midfield with new signing Ander Herrera unavailable, along with Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick - all three suffering with foot/ankle injuries.

It is understood Van Gaal does not feel Darren Fletcher and Tom Cleverley are the players to take United forward and has asked chief executive Ed Woodward to look at bringing in Allen.

A move from Liverpool to United would be bound to cause a big fuss in Merseyside.

Striker Michael Owen was given a tough reception by a section of fans when he played for United at his former club Liverpool, having starred for Real Madrid and Newcastle in between.

Only five Liverpool players have ever been transferred to United - Tom Chorlton (1912), Tom Miller (1920), Tommy Reid (1929), Ted Savage (1938) and Chilton.