Swansea City hold talks with Joe Allen over stunning return to club

Swansea City are keen to re-sign Joe Allen in the summer transfer window.

The Swans are expected to have yet another significant squad turnaround during the close season and have already identified a number of targets. And WalesOnline understands they want to bring Allen back to south Wales.

The Wales international started his career with Swansea and made 150 appearances for the first team, helping the club gain promotion into the Premier League for the first time in 2011. A year later, he followed Brendan Rodgers in moving to Liverpool.

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After four seasons at Anfield, Allen joined Stoke in 2016, although his contract with the Potters expires in the summer.

He featured for Michael O'Neill's men in their clash with Coventry City on the final day of the Championship campaign. He is expected to hold talks with key figures at Stoke in the coming days.

However, it's understood Allen has already held positive discussions with the Swans and that he is eager to return to his boyhood club. Several clubs - including some from abroad - have shown an interest in the 32-year-old - who is now a free agent.

Allen is set to be included in Rob Page's Wales squad for their five June fixtures, one of which sees the Red Dragons host either Scotland or Ukraine at Cardiff City Stadium. Their final fixture next month is against the Netherlands in Rotterdam on June 14, with Swansea's pre-season starting in the same week.

Flynn Downes is expected to attract transfer interest this summer, with Leeds United reportedly monitoring the young Englishman, although the Swans are eager to keep the midfielder in their ranks. Swansea would allow Jay Fulton to depart while they would