Stoke City have reportedly rejected a bid from Premier League side West Ham United for midfielder Joe Allen. 

The Welshman has been an important player for the Potters this season, starting the majority of their Championship games and wearing the captain's armband on multiple occasions.

It appears West Ham are determined to prize him away from Stoke in January, however, as Football Insider has reported that they have had a bid in the region of £5 million rejected by the Championship club.

It is understood that the Potters are ready to accept an offer in the region of £8 million for the 29-year-old, having previously valued him at around £15 million.

It is believed Stoke are looking to cut costs in January, with their aim of returning to the Premier League this season seemingly unachievable.

After the Hammers' recent bid was rejected, we asked our FLW writers whether they expected Allen to stay or go in the winter transfer window...

George Harbey

“I can’t see Allen staying at Stoke for much longer, to be quite honest, and I don’t think it would be too big of a blow to lose him if he did move to West Ham.

“For a player of his quality and experience, he has been hugely disappointing for Stoke these last couple of years and they would have been relying on him for his leadership in the middle of the park.

“It has been well documented that Michael O’Neill is under pressure to slash the club’s wage bill, and having played in the Premier League for such a long time, Allen is likely to be one of the club’s highest-earning players.

“If West Ham come back in with another bid, they should think carefully about it as the funds could be beneficial when O’Neill looks to add his own players to the squad in their bid for survival.”

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Ben Lang

"It's an interesting situation as Allen is a player Stoke will definitely be looking to hold on to but the player himself may now be keen on a Premier League move at this stage in his career.

"Allen is now entering his 30s so there is no guarantee that this top-flight interest will extend into the future and it would be no surprise to see him pushing for a move away from relegation-struggling Stoke this window.

"However, it will take a significant offer for Stoke to allow Allen to leave the club this month, particularly seeing as O'Neill needs quality players at his disposal in order to survive relegation this term.

"With both sides weighed up, I think Allen will remain at the bet365 Stadium by the end of this transfer window but it seems likely he will have left the Potters by the summer."

Sam Rourke

"I think his exit is inevitable.

"Allen has not been as effective as many may have thought since plying his trade in the second tier and if the Potters can get a healthy sum of money for the ex-Liverpool man it may be a sensible decision to offload.

"If Stoke can get anything over £6/7 million you'd have to consider accepting and it's not like O'Neill's side are short in the central midfield department.

"You get the feeling O'Neill wants to strip the squad and assert his own authority on the team, so axing someone like Allen could allow the manager to bring in someone he truly wants to help transform the Potters' fortunes."