Finally, someone from Swansea and the previous life of manager Brendan Rodgers might make it to his new job at Anfield as Liverpool chief. Joe Allen, the Welsh international who is also part of the British Olympic Squad to London 2012 is reported to be on the verge of completing a deal that will make him a Liverpool player.

For how much? Well, the reports indicate that Allen does have a release clause that allows him to leave Swansea for £15 million, but other sources suggest that Liverpool will offer £10 million plus one of their players to go out on loan and play for Swansea. Whatever the deal may be, Swansea’s chairman, Hew Jenkins, is quite angry with Rodgers. Why? A gentlemen’s agreement that Rodgers won’t try and sign his former players to his new club.

As the old saying goes – Football is a gentleman’s game played by hooligans, and verbal agreement don’t mean much. Sometimes even those written on paper don’t mean much as well. Rodgers wants to succeed with his new club, with a lot more pressure and expectations on his shoulders this time. If it means signing players you promised another man you wouldn’t sign, so be it. You don’t get ahead in this sport by always being nice.

Allen’s release clause is to be triggered if Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City or Chelsea come calling with the right amount of cash. The small (5’6) 22-year old Welshman, capped 8 times for the national team since 2009, has been with Swansea since he was nine years old, making his debut in the 2006-2007 season. He began playing regularly three seasons ago until an injury halted his rise.

Under Brendan Rodgers he returned to the starting lineup and became the team’s engine in the middle of the pitch. He played in 36 Premier League matches for the club last season, scoring 4 goals.