Joe Allen and Brad Smith appear to be nearing Liverpool exits as Jürgen Klopp continues to reduce the size of his first-team squad.

The Reds accepted an offer from Stoke City for Allen believed to be around £13.5 million, just £1.5 million down on the fee the Reds paid Swansea City for the Wales international four years ago.

Allen is believed to want more regular first-team football than on offer at Anfield, after only starting eight Premier League games last term.

And that is what is on offer under his countryman Mark Hughes, who sees him as a crucial component of a new-look midfield alongside £18 million January addition Giannelli Imbula.

Allen is on the verge of leaving Liverpool in search of more game time. (Picture: Getty Images)
Allen is on the verge of leaving Liverpool in search of more game time. (Picture: Getty Images)

Swansea City, Allen's former club, were also interested but having had an £8 million bid rejected last month were reluctant to respond with an improved offer.

Europa League champions Sevilla, too, were interested but didn't firm up their interest with an official bid by contacting Liverpool.

Stoke have since agreed a fee and personal terms with Allen, who was pictured outside their Clayton Wood training ground earlier on Monday ahead of a medical.

Although Klopp rates Allen, who starred for Euro 2016 semi-finalists Wales over the summer, the additions of Marko Grujic and Georginio Wijnaldum add extra competition in midfield and the German could not guarantee the 26-year-old sufficient playing time to convince him to remain on Merseyside.

A deal could be completed, and announced, within 24 hours - with Allen then likely to fly out to Florida to join up with Stoke on their pre-season tour.

Smith and Allen likely to leave as Klopp sheds first-team to more manageable size

Meanwhile, Smith could be granted permission to return to UK within the next couple of days after Bournemouth's £6 million bid was accepted for the left-back.

The Australian international, who has only made 11 appearances for Liverpool's first-team, has continued to train with Klopp and co. in Palo Alto, taking part in their light recovery session at Stanford University on Sunday.

Smith in action for Liverpool in pre-season. (Picture: Getty Images)
Smith in action for Liverpool in pre-season. (Picture: Getty Images)

However, once he agrees terms with the Cherries - who also bought Jordon Ibe for £15 million earlier this month - he will be granted leave to fly to the South Coast club for a medical.

Liverpool are have raised just shy of £30 million so far this summer with the sales of Jordan Rossiter, Joao Carlos Teixeira, Jerome Sinclair, Sergi Canos, Martin Skrtel and Ibe.

Jose Enrique and Kolo Toure were also released, the latter since re-uniting with former Reds boss Brendan Rodgers at Celtic, with goalkeepers Adam Bogdan, Ryan Fulton and Danny Ward all departing on loan.

More exits are likely with strikers Christian Benteke and Mario Balotelli both expected to leave and the Reds open to offers for winger Lazar Markovic, who could go out on loan in return for a sizeable fee in return or be sold permanently provided there is a suitable offer.

Lucas Leiva is another whose future hangs in the balance, although the hamstring injury which is set to keep him out for the next four weeks, could impact any interested parties launching an offer.

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About the author
Charlie Malam
Digital Sports Writer at the Daily Express. First-class Staffordshire University Sports Journalism graduate. Formerly VAVEL UK's Liverpool FC editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief. Contributor since June 2014.